Cairo, April 26: An Egyptian official has stressed Cairo's resolve to establish prominent ties with Tehran, saying that such determination is unwavering and cannot be manipulated by a third party.
In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, the Egyptian Prime Minister's spokesman, Ahmed el-Samman, said that “Egypt will open a new chapter in its relations with other countries, including Iran, based on mutual respect. It will no longer accept the restrictions introduced by the former regime,” Fars News Agency reported on Monday.
Samman added that Persian Gulf littoral states had no need to worry about the growing relations between Egypt and Iran, as such relations would not harm them.
He stressed that Cairo would not accept foreign pressure in its relations with Tehran.
The remarks came after the United Arab Emirates expressed concern over signs of warming ties between Egypt and Iran.
Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf is currently in the Saudi capital of Riyadh as part of a tour of regional countries aimed at forging stronger political relations and bilateral cooperation between Egypt and Mideast states. He is also scheduled to discuss the Palestinian issue with regional leaders.
He reportedly cancelled his visit to the United Arab Emirates after Abu Dhabi voiced discontent over the trial proceedings of former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak.
Iran and Egypt have not had diplomatic relations since 1980. Iran severed ties with Egypt after Cairo signed the 1978 Camp David Accords with the Israeli regime and offered asylum to Iran's former Shah, Mohammad-Reza Pahlavi.
Mubarak and his two sons, Alaa and Gamal, are now in detention “as part of an inquiry into the use of force against protesters during the popular uprising in January and February.”
Alaa and Gamal Mubarak are also accused of embezzlement of public funds.
-------Agencies
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