Iran, Egypt Call for Normalization of TiesIran and Egypt called on November 19 for normalization of relations, over 20 years after cutting off the ties, Iran's Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported.The call was made during a meeting between Chairman of Iran's Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Mines Ali Naqi Khamoushi and Chairman of Egypt's General Federation of Chambers of Commerce Khaled Abu Ismail, IRNA said. Relations between Iran and Egypt can be re-established, as was the case between Iran and Saudi Arabia, Khamoushi told his Egyptian counterpart, who began his visit Saturday leading a trade delegation. Ismail also expressed his support for the resumption of the Cairo-Tehran political ties, which were severed in 1979 after Egypt granted asylum to the last Iranian shah who was dethroned in the Islamic revolution. Ismail told Khamoushi that Egypt and Iran should resist the trend of globalization and contribute to joint investment in the Arab-African market. He announced that the two countries have planned to set up a joint investment and commercial company. But he did not reveal any details. The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding at the meeting for a joint chamber of commerce with offices in both Tehran and Cairo. Since moderate President Mohammad Khatami took office in 1997, Iran's relations with Arab countries, especially Gulf littoral states, have seen remarkable improvement. The relations were once clouded by Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution. Iran and Egypt have also made joint efforts in recent years to warm up their relations, starting from expanding trade ties. |
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