File Photo: A street sign with the name Khaled Al-Islambouli. Photo courtesy of Tasnimarabic X account.
The move is seen as a significant gesture by Iran to improve long-strained diplomatic relations with Egypt.
For decades, the street in northern Tehran was named after Islambouli, the man who assassinated Egyptian President Anwar El-Sadat in 1981.
The naming had long been a point of contention and a source of diplomatic hostility between the two countries.
Iran had initially hailed Islambouli as a martyr due to Sadat's peace treaty with Israel in 1979.
The decision to rename the street comes amid a warming trend in Iran-Egypt relations.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Cairo earlier this month, met with President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, and held talks described as "fruitful" by both sides.
During a press conference with Egyptian foreign minister Badr Abdelatty, Araghchi said, "There is only one obstacle remaining."
He added, "This final hurdle will be removed within the coming weeks." He referred to the street name, a high-level diplomatic source told Ahram Online then. “The Iranians have promised to address the matter.”
"There is a mutual desire between Egypt and Iran to enhance relations," Abdelatty said as the two capitals advance toward closer ties.
The renaming is expected to improve diplomatic, political, and economic relations between Iran and Egypt further and could lead to the exchange of ambassadors.
While diplomatic ties were formally resumed 11 years after being cut, they have remained at the chargé d'affaires level.
According to a well-informed source, the state is interested in improving relations and developing shared interests.
However, despite progress and positive rhetoric, observers note that Cairo and Tehran are not advancing at the same pace.
Egypt has deliberately avoided rushing toward full normalization.
The source acknowledged the renaming as a sign of good intentions but added, "In Cairo's view, there are other, more important issues related to Arab security."
“We are proceeding step by step. Eventually we will end up there. When, we don’t know,” the source said.
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