Raisi, el-Sisi discuss Gaza, restoration of ties

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
23 Dec 2023 16:08

Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi congratulates his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, on his reelection for what would be his third term serving as Egypt's president.

Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi, left, meets Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on the sidelines of an emergency Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh, November 11, 2023. (AFP)

Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi has congratulated his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, on his reelection for what would be his third term serving as Egypt's president in a recent phone call, marking a milestone in communication between both of their respective countries.

Throughout their talk, the presidents discussed the most recent headlines of the Israeli genocide in Gaza, emphasizing the importance of unity between Muslim countries, and agreed to take the essential steps to find resolutions that establish harmony between their countries on another note.

In September, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani described the then meeting at the time between the Iranian and Egyptian foreign ministers as “very good and positive”.

Earlier in June, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry convened on the sidelines of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York to mark a pivotal point in the bilateral relations and a further step in developing Iran’s ties with regional countries.

Restoration to happen eventually

This comes a month after Chairman of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, Mohamed el Orabi, stated in an interview with the Arab World Press (AWP) news agency that the bilateral communications between Iran and Egypt are ongoing but claimed it is not necessary to publicize them.

“The issue is very simple and should not become complicated. Restoration of full relations with Tehran will happen eventually, but Egypt has its reservations,” Orabi said, adding that the diplomatic interactions remain, and although they have not been severed, “determining factors” which are “unique in essence” must be considered when it comes to re-establishing ties.

His statement referenced when Egypt cut off diplomatic relations with Iran in 1980 after Egypt hosted the ousted Pahlavi ruler of Iran, alongside recognizing the Israeli occupation.