The Middle East needs Iran and Egypt: Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman

Ahram Online , Monday 13 Mar 2023

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani said on Monday that the Middle East region requires the positive potential of Tehran and Cairo.

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A file photo of the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani

 

Kanaani's remarks come only three days after the announcement of a Saudi-Iranian deal to resume ties on Friday.

According to Iranian News agency "Tasnim", Kanaani was asked about the plans to revive the relations between Egypt and Iran.

He responded by highlighting the significant role of Iran and Egypt in the region.

“Egypt is an important country and the two states (Iran and Egypt) attach significance to each other," he said, adding that "the region requires the positive potential of Tehran and Cairo."  

On Friday, after years of tensions, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to re-establish diplomatic ties and reopen embassies in a deal that was brokered by China.

The agreement includes a commitment to respect the sovereignty of countries and non-interference in their internal affairs, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

According to the agreement, the foreign ministers of both countries will meet to activate the agreement, arrange the exchange of ambassadors, and discuss ways to strengthen relations.

Additionally, the security cooperation agreement signed in 2001 and the general agreement for cooperation in various fields signed in 1998 will be activated.

The three countries - Saudi Arabia, Iran and China - expressed their commitment to enhancing regional and international peace and security, added SPA.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Friday welcoming the agreement and expressing hope that it would ease tensions in the region and contribute to stabilising and preserving the capabilities of Arab national security. 

On Saturday, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement that the Saudi-Iranian deal to resume diplomatic ties is an “important step" to defuse tensions in the region.

"[This development] presents an opportunity to Iran to confirm its orientation towards pursuing a policy that takes into account the legitimate concerns of the countries of the region, in a way that enhances opportunities for cooperation and consolidation of positive communications among them to chart a path that meets the aspirations of the peoples of the region for prosperity and progress," the Egyptian presidency added.

Egyptian-Iranian relations were severed by the Islamic Republic of Iran after the Islamic Revolution in 1979.

Despite many forms of cooperation in multilateral forums, especially the UN Security Council, relations between Egypt and Iran have remained below the full ambassadorial level.

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