Egypt Willing to Broaden Ties with Iran: Top Diplomat
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The foreign minister of Egypt expressed his country’s readiness to strengthen and promote relations with Iran during a visit to Tehran.
Foreign Minister of Egypt Sameh Shoukry paid a landmark visit to Tehran on Wednesday to attend a ceremony to pay tribute to late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage, who died in a helicopter crash on May 19.
Shoukry became the first foreign minister of Egypt to visit Iran after the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979.
The top Egyptian diplomat held a meeting with Iran's acting president, Mohammad Mokhber, on the sidelines of the event.
Expressing his condolences on the loss of the Iranian president, Shoukry said, "I wish we could visit Iran in a better condition, but now, I am conveying our condolence message of Mr. Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the president (of Egypt), and Mr. Ahmed el-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, for this bitter loss to the government and nation of Iran.”
He also highlighted the outstanding role of Iran’s late president and foreign minister in interaction and convergence among Islamic countries, the president’s website reported.
Shoukry then emphasized Egypt's interest in developing and strengthening relations with Iran and said, “The Islamic Republic of Iran is a deep-rooted system with strong foundations. We are confident that despite this unfortunate event, it will pass this critical period.”
For his part, Mokhber thanked the government and people of Egypt for their kindness and sympathy with Iran.
“We have lost great, hardworking, compassionate and efficient personalities, and their loss is a bitter loss for the Iranian nation, but with empathy, we will get through these difficult times,” the acting president noted.
Mokhber also highlighted the historical and civilizational background of Iran and Egypt and their mutual interests, saying, "The restoration of relations and the development and deepening of interactions between the two countries, especially in the cultural, political and economic sectors, will continue with strength.”
A helicopter carrying President Raisi and his entourage crashed in northwestern mountainous forests on May 19.
The crash killed President Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, Friday prayers leader of Tabriz Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Al-e-Hashem, Governor of East Azarbaijan Malek Rahmati, the commander of the president’s security team, two pilots and a flight crew.