Salehi says Iran, Egypt are two key Muslim nations

During a conference on the regional developments in Tehran on Saturday, the Iranian foreign minister expressed Tehran's readiness for raising the level of ties between the two countries.

“We have announced our readiness… and we hope that Egyptian authorities, in view of our verbal exchanges and correspondence, take a courageous step as soon as possible for increasing the level of relations between the two countries (Iran and Egypt),” IRNA quoted Salehi as saying.

Pointing to the pressure mounted on the Egyptian government regarding ties with the Islamic Republic, Salehi said, “Egyptian authorities know how to deal with such pressures.”

“Iran and Egypt are two pillars of the Muslim world and complement one another; and their interaction will help peace, stability, and security in the region,” he added.

Iran severed ties with Egypt after Cairo signed the 1978 Camp David Accords with Israel and provided asylum to the country's deposed shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

On March 29, in his first press conference as Egypt's foreign minister, following the ouster of Hosni Mubarak, Nabil al-Arabi said Cairo is ready to open "a new page [in relations] with Iran."
Salehi responded on April 1, 2011 and said “despite the ups and downs, historical ties between the two countries have been sustained.”

“The Egyptian people have turned a new page in the country's history by moving towards the realization of their justice-seeking demands,” Salehi said.

Since then, different Iranian and Egyptian officials have stressed the importance of improving Tehran-Cairo ties.