“If we want the Iran-Egypt ties to officially reach a favorable level, which is expected by the people of both countries, we should have patience,” said Ramin Mehmanparast on Sunday.
Referring to the developing bilateral ties between Tehran and Cairo, Mehmanparast said we are in a transition from a very low level of ties to a favorable condition, and for achieving this condition, we should pass through the stages gradually and in consideration of Egypt’s internal situation.
“It has been declared by Iran on numerous occasions that we have no restrictions on establishing ties with Egypt and that we are ready to resume the relations, but the internal situation in this country (Egypt) is not yet prepared,” Mehmanparast pointed out.
The Iranian diplomat noted that the resumption of tourism ties can lay the groundwork for the expansion of trade and economic ties between Iran and Egypt.
Iran severed its diplomatic ties with Egypt after the 1979 Islamic Revolution because Egypt had signed the Camp David Accords with the Israeli regime and offered asylum to Iran's deposed monarch, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
Bilateral relations, however, have been on the mend following the 2011 Egyptian revolution that resulted in the ouster of the country’s dictator, Hosni Mubarak.
The unrest in Syria
Touching upon Iran’s red lines about Syria, Mehmanparast said, “We defend the rights of the Syrian people and we believe that all countries should move toward asserting the rights of nations.”
It is up to each nation to decide about its rights and nobody is entitled to decide for the Syrian nation and impose its views on them, the Iranian diplomat said.
Mehmanparast warned that if arming the opposition forces becomes a norm, Syrian-style crises can immediately spill over into the entire Middle East.
Certain Western countries and their regional allies continue to openly support the militants in Syria, the majority of whom are foreign nationals.
The unrest in Syria began in March 2011, and many people, including large numbers of soldiers and security personnel, have been killed in the violence.
The Syrian government says that the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country.
