Cairo, April 11: Head of Egypt's ruling military council, Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, says Iran is not an enemy of Egypt, calling for better ties with the Islamic Republic.
In an interview with German daily Der Spiegel, Tantawi lauded Iran's excellent position in the Islamic world, and expressed hope that Tehran-Cairo relations would increase.
"We hope that the upcoming stage would be a stage of special bilateral relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran, serving the best of both countries," said the head of the Supreme Council of the Egyptian armed forces.
Moreover, Egyptian Shia scholar Ahmad Rasem al-Nafis told Fars news agency on Sunday that if Egypt wants to regain its past glory, it should restore its relations with Iran.
"I believe that Cairo must correct its past mistakes toward Tehran and start a new chapter in its mutual relations," he noted.
He went on to say that former President Hosni Mubarak made himself an instrument for implementing the policies of the US and Israel in the region, and blocked all efforts to establish close relations with Tehran.
Earlier in April, Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil al-Arabi called for normalization of ties with Iran, saying Cairo is committed to seeking to improve long-frozen relations with Tehran.
The post-revolution Egypt looks poised to turn a new page in its relations with the Islamic Republic as al-Arabi said his country will witness a new phase in its ties with Iran.
Iran severed ties with Egypt after Cairo signed the 1978 Camp David Accords with the Israeli regime and offered asylum to Iran's deposed dictator, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
-------Agencies
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