Egyptian Party Voices Support for Tehran-Cairo Ties

TEHRAN (FNA)- A senior member of Egypt's Al-Ikhwan al-Muslimun (Muslim Brotherhood) party underlined that resumption of ties with Iran is of strategic importance to Egypt, and added that closer relations between Cairo and Tehran would serve the interests of the two nations and the Muslim world.
"Resumption of any kind of ties and cooperation between Tehran and Cairo seems to be beneficial to all Arab and Muslim nations as well as the two countries," Ashraf Badreddin told FNA on Monday.

He described Tehran as "the strategic depth of Egypt", and said, "We believe that our strategic depth stretches to all Muslim and Arab countries, therefore establishment of bilateral ties with these countries is a top priority for us compared with the other countries."

Badreddin further urged the Egyptian officials to take rapid action to promote all-out relations with Tehran, specially in economic and energy fields.

Earlier this month, Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil al-Arabi had reiterated that Cairo is definitely willing to resume its bilateral diplomatic ties with Tehran.

Al-Arabi said Cairo has officially announced plans to normalize ties with Tehran, stating that Egypt had entered a new chapter in its foreign policy with all nations.

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

Iran's top diplomat Ali Akbar Salehi has officially invited al-Arabi to pay a visit to Tehran