FM Terms Iran, Egypt as "Pillars of Islam"

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi hoped for an imminent rapprochement between Iran and Egypt, reminding the two countries' key role in the Muslim world.
"I am very optimistic about the future of the two countries' ties as desired by the two governments and nations," Salehi said, addressing an international conference on 'Islamic awakening' here in Tehran on Tuesday.

"I think that the two countries of Iran and Egypt are two pillars of the Muslim world and the region and resumption and deepening of ties between the two countries will certainly be effective for regional peace, stability and security," Salehi noted.

"In addition, the Muslim world will benefit from these two great civilization-making nations," Salehi added.

He further mentioned that the needed grounds for closer ties between Iran and Egypt will be prepared following the upcoming parliamentary elections in Egypt.

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 and Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi officially invited his Egyptian counterpart Nabil al-Arabi to pay a visit to Tehran.

The Iranian foreign minister and his Egyptian counterpart also held a meeting in Bali, Indonesia last week.

During the meeting which took place on the sidelines of a ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the two diplomats conferred on ways to promote the bilateral relations between Tehran and Cairo, and stressed the need for continued consultations in this regard.

Al-Arabi had earlier announced that Cairo would soon open a new page with Iran.