In latest a long time, relations between Egypt and Iran have been marked by rigidity. Whereas the 2 nations are a part of the Center East and share the Islamic religion, they observe totally different non secular branches, with political and strategic pursuits that usually diverge.
Nonetheless, the 2 nations discovered widespread floor within the Arab-Israeli battle, and the year-long battle in Gaza has prompted them to think about restoring diplomatic ties.
The Iranian President, Ebrahim Raisi, and Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi met for the primary time in November 2023 on the sidelines of the Arab-Islamic summit hosted by Saudi Arabia in Riyadh. Since then, the 2 international locations have been in fixed contact, discussing “the scenario within the Gaza Strip, and fears of escalation of regional rigidity,” as acknowledged in official communications from each events.
This reconnection comes after practically half a century of Egypt and Iran not seeing eye to eye—a battle that started with the 1979 Iranian Revolution.
The Advanced Relations of Egypt and Iran
Through the Seventies, Iran had a detailed relationship with Egypt below the presidency of Anwar El-Sadat, and Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi’s reign in Iran.
Nevertheless, the 1979 Iranian Revolution, by which plenty rose towards Shah’s regime, recognized for its shut ties with the USA and recognition of Israel, marked a pointy decline in relations.
The revolution reshaped the Imperial State of Iran into the modern Islamic Republic, with Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, a distinguished cleric who led one of many insurgent factions, ascending to energy and changing the Shah. This upheaval not solely altered regional dynamics but in addition severely impacted Cairo-Tehran ties.
Following Egypt’s signing of the Camp David Accords with Israel, Khomeini minimize diplomatic ties with Cairo in protest. The rift between the 2 nations deepened additional when El-Sadat granted asylum to the overthrown Shah of Iran, who died and was buried in Egypt in 1980.
Conflicts between Egypt and Iran remained excessive all through the Nineteen Eighties, primarily pushed by Egypt’s assist for Iraq throughout the extended Iran-Iraq Conflict. Relations additional deteriorated when Iran provocatively named a road in its capital after Khalid al-Islambouli, the Egyptian military lieutenant concerned within the assassination of El-Sadat in 1981.
In 2003, former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Iranian President Mohammad Khatami held a pivotal assembly, the primary direct encounter between the leaders of Egypt and Iran in a long time. This historic assembly signaled a cautious step towards thawing the long-standing diplomatic freeze between the 2 international locations.
9 years later, the late Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi visited Tehran in August 2012 to attend a summit of the Non-Aligned Motion. The journey marked the primary time an Egyptian chief had visited Iran because the 1979 Iranian Revolution, symbolizing a possible shift within the relations between the 2 nations.
In February 2013, then-Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made a reciprocal go to to Cairo to attend an Group of Islamic Cooperation summit, signaling one more vital step towards mending relations between the 2 nations.
Restoring Diplomatic Ties Amid a Humanitarian Disaster
The 2 international locations have had many conferences all through the primary half of 2024 to discover strengthening bilateral relations and talk about the Conflict in Gaza.
Egypt’s International Minister, Badr Abdelatty has been working intently with Iran’s Performing International Minister, Ali Bagheri Kani, to advocate for all events to follow restraint to stop an escalation right into a full-blown regional battle.
After Israel assassinated Hamas’ political bureau chief, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran on 31 July, it carried out an airstrike in Beirut on 27 September, killing Hezbollah army chief Fouad Shukur. In response, Iran, which is a supporter of Hezbollah, vowed retaliation.
The rising rigidity between Iran and Israel has prompted Egypt to step up its diplomatic efforts on the worldwide stage to stop the scenario from worsening.
In a cellphone name on 7 October, Abdelatty and Iran’s International Minister, Abbas Araghchi, highlighted the urgency of de-escalating tensions within the Center East, warning that additional hostilities may push the area towards a catastrophic battle, jeopardizing its safety and stability.
As this narrative unfolds, Egypt and Iran’s relations stay fraught with challenges, but they’re strengthened by efforts aimed toward reconciliation amid regional turmoil.