Iran, Egypt to Resume Reciprocal Visits

TEHRAN,May 14 (FNA)- A senior Iranian lawmaker announced that Tehran and Cairo have decided to resume their ties through increasing reciprocal visits by both states' businessmen and scholars.
"A delegation of Egyptian scholars and merchants are going to step in Iran soon," Head of the parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi on Friday.

"Iran's contacts with Egypt will be put into practice soon at both official and popular levels, but many countries will not be satisfied with the issue (resumption of ties between the two states)," he added.

After the collapse of Hosni Mubarak's regime, the Iranian and Egyptian officials voiced their interest in the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Iran's top diplomat Ali Akbar Salehi officially invited Egypt's newly appointed Foreign Minister Nabil al-Arabi to pay a visit to Tehran.

The invitation letter was submitted to the Egyptian foreign minister during a meeting between Director of Iran's Interest Section in Cairo Mojtaba Amani and al-Arabi.

Al-Arabi in his first press conference earlier last month announced Cairo's preparedness to open "a new page with Iran".

The official went on to say that the Egyptian government does not see Iran as an enemy state, noting the two countries have historically rooted relations.

He further stated that establishment of diplomatic ties depends on the Iranian side.

In reply, Salehi also said that Iran is ready to resume relations with Cairo.