Cairo Ready to Raise Diplomatic Relations with Tehran: Sources

The announcement comes as the Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq, visited Cairo for the first time since assuming power more than three years ago. During his two-day visit, the Sultan held talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

The official Omani News Agency reported that the discussions between the two leaders focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation in various fields, with the aim of benefiting both nations and promoting prosperity and development among their respective peoples. The talks also touched upon regional and international developments.

High-ranking officials from both sides participated in the talks, including the Egyptian Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Mohamed Zaki, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sameh Shoukry, and the head of the General Intelligence, Major General Abbas Kamel. The Omani delegation included Deputy Prime Minister for Defense Affairs Shihab bin Tariq Al Said, Minister of the Court of the Royal Court Khalid bin Hilal Al Busaidi, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi.

Sources familiar with the discussions revealed that major issues were addressed, including the potential for normalizing Egyptian-Iranian relations. Both parties also explored other regional and international matters of mutual interest, as well as opportunities to strengthen economic and trade ties between Cairo and Muscat.

Diplomatic sources disclosed to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that Cairo is now prepared to upgrade its diplomatic relations with Tehran. This would involve the appointment of ambassadors, as the current representation relies on chargés d'affaires in both countries. The topic was reportedly discussed during Sultan Haitham bin Tariq's visit, despite the existence of direct channels of communication between Egypt and Iran.

Sources further revealed that discussions on the Egyptian-Iranian relationship followed contacts made by Egyptian officials with their Iranian counterparts. The potential for cooperation in political, strategic, security, economic, and commercial domains was considered, particularly regarding pressing regional issues such as Yemen, Iraq, and Syria.

Experts suggest that the Sultan's visit and his meeting with Sisi could pave the way for progress in this regard. Former Assistant Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity, Ambassador Ahmed Hajjaj, stated that the visit might lead to a mediating role played by Oman in restoring relations between Cairo and Tehran. Oman's influential position in the Persian Gulf region and its active role in the (Persian) Gulf Cooperation Council were highlighted as factors contributing to its potential influence.

Dr. Essam Abdel Shafi, a political science professor, suggested that the Sultan's visit should be viewed within the framework of regional and international political contexts. He highlighted the potential normalization of Egyptian-Iranian relations as the most significant aspect of the visit, particularly following the normalization of Saudi-Iranian relations. Oman's role as a mediator and its strategic relations with both countries were also emphasized.

Abdul Shafi emphasized Oman's policy of maintaining open dialogue with all parties, even those with conflicting interests. Given Iran's regional role and its ties with Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Syria, and Iraq, Oman's role in facilitating negotiations becomes crucial. With recent developments, the normalization of Egyptian-Iranian relations appears feasible, especially in light of Egypt's normalization with Saudi Arabia and the return of Arab ambassadors of the Persian Gulf countries to Iran.

The Sultan of Oman's visit to Cairo and the discussions held during this diplomatic exchange have the potential to reshape the diplomatic landscape in the region, with a focus on Cairo's intention to enhance its relations with Tehran.