Zahra Khodaie:
After 32 years of unfavorable relations, Egypt's President, Mohammad Morsi visited Iran last week and participated in NAM summit in Tehran. Despite the fact that there are still some major discords in both countries bilateral relations, many analysts believe that this first step toward normalizing the ties was fruitful and both sides showed that they are determined to reach a common sense in what is going on in the region. Here is Khabar Online’s interview with Mehran Kamrava the Middle East studies professor in George Town university of Doha in Qatar. Kamrava believes that in some respects, especially ideologically, the relationship between Iran and the Muslim Brotherhood will be difficult.
How do you analyze the Iran and Egypt relation after Morsi s participationin "Nam" summit in Tehran?
Pres. Morsi's attendance at the NAM summit is a positive symbolic first step. Iran-Egyptian relations have not been positive for decades, and there is a lot of mistrust and animosity to overcome. But I think this is a positive first step. We will have to wait and see how each side moves forward. Will this be the beginning of more in-depth relations, or will be a visit full of symbolism but with little substance? We will have to wait and see.
Some analysts believe that the tie between Iran and Muslim Brotherhood will be more difficult than beore in some matter, how do you think about it?
In some respects, especially ideologically, the relationship between Iran and the Muslim Brotherhood will be difficult. But we must remember that ideology is seldom a guide for or blueprint for foreign policy, and that strategic considerations often are far more important that ideological ones. In other words, just because Morsi comes from the Muslim Brotherhood will not necessarily prevent Egypt from pursuing possible ties with Iran.
How can Iran have a logic relation with new moderate Islamists, when the new pragmatic government of Egypt decided to have relation with both Israel and Hamas?
Iran's relationship with all countries has been based on diplomatic and strategic calculations of what are in the country's best interests.
The Egypt and Iran have two different positions in Syrian crisis and they proposed to form a contact group. How can they reach an equal and reasonable solution on Syrian Crisis?
The Contact Group that Iran has proposed in discussing the Syrian issue is a very important forum for policy coordination and for developing a consensus among actors with different priorities and objectives. This is a very positive start.
How do you anticipate the future relation between Iran and Egypt?
As I mentioned before, we have to see what is the next step that each country takes. The start--Morsi's visit to Iran--has been very positive. The next steps that each side takes will be of critical importance.
