Tehran, April 06: As Tehran and Cairo edge toward the resumption of diplomatic ties, an Iranian lawmaker has called for deep and detailed insight into the thaw.
"We should not act hurriedly to restore full diplomatic relations, and we should follow a logical process,” the rapporteur of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of Majlis, Kazem Jalali, told ISNA news agency on Wednesday.
His comments come as Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil al-Arabi has again expressed Cairo's readiness to re-establish diplomatic ties with Tehran after a three-decade break.
“The Egyptian and Iranian people deserve to have mutual relations reflecting their history and civilization,” al-Arabi said after meeting with Director of Iran's Interests Section in Cairo Mojtaba Amani on Monday.
“Egypt is open to all countries and the aim is to achieve common interests,” he said, reiterating that Cairo welcomed “opening a new page with Iran.”
In his first press conference as Egypt's foreign minister in March, al-Arabi pointed out that the Egyptian government does not see Iran as an enemy state, noting that the two countries have historically enjoyed deep relations.
Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has welcomed the comments by his Egyptian counterpart on the re-establishment of Tehran-Cairo ties.
“Despite the ups and downs, the historical ties between the two countries have been sustained,” Salehi said last month, adding that good relations between the two countries could boost the region's stability, security and development.
Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has also expressed Tehran's interest in re-establishing relations with Cairo.
“Iran has been seeking the expansion of ties with all governments and nations except the Zionist regime (Israel). I have also announced earlier that we are looking to expand ties, particularly with Egypt, and hope for moving developments on this issue,” President Ahmadinejad said at a Monday press conference.
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 deposed dictator, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
-0--Presstv
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