Egypt under Tel Aviv’s pressure not to restore ties with Iran: Israeli media

An Israeli media outlet has revealed that the Tel Aviv regime is pressuring Egypt not to restore relations with Iran, amid reports that the two regional heavyweights are engaged in negotiations in Iraq and are about to reopen their respective embassies soon.

In a report published on Wednesday, Yedioth Ahronoth daily newspaper said Israeli delegates are secretly visiting Cairo and trying to dissuade the government of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi from taking reciprocal measures to revive ties with Tehran amid regional rapprochement.

The revelation came days after Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said Tehran welcomes the development of relations with Cairo and hopes for fresh mutual steps to improve bilateral ties.

Tehran and Cairo are in direct contact with each other through their interests sections, Amir-Abdollahian said on Sunday.

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He noted that some countries are making efforts to encourage Iran and Egypt to improve bilateral ties.

“We have always welcomed the development of relations between Tehran and Cairo,” he said. “The heads of our missions – interests sections – in Tehran and Cairo have good meetings. There is good access to the authorities of both countries.”

Meanwhile, a member of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee confirmed on Sunday that negotiations are underway in Iraq between Iranian and Egyptian delegates.

The relations between Tehran and Cairo will be restored in the near future and the embassies of the two countries in Tehran and Cairo will reopen, Fadahossein Maleki said.

Egypt severed its diplomatic relations with Iran in 1980 after it welcomed the deposed Pahlavi ruler of Iran and also recognized the apartheid Israeli regime.

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