Iran, Egypt move toward understanding and interaction

Mohammad Hossein Soltanifar, Head of Iran’s interests section in Egypt

The explicit opposition of several Arab countries, including Egypt, doomed the recent summit in Jeddah, whereby the United States had planned to create sort of a defense alliance against the Islamic Republic of Iran, to which the Zionist regime was supposed to contribute. This proved once again that there is more to the principles governing Tehran-Cairo relations than meets the eye.

In that spirit, one should take special note of Egypt’s economic and commercial capacities and opportunities, which, given its population of more than 103 million, constitutes a significant market that can be very important to, and productive for, the economic policies of the 13th administration. Moreover, Egypt can play a key role as the gateway to Africa and a member of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), as it did in the 1990s.

That explains why Turkey and Qatar have seized on the opportunity, quickly taking over a part of the Egyptian market and increasing their commercial and tourism exchanges by launching many new airlines.

Through exchanging messages as well as distant and direct consultations, the Islamic Republic of Iran has so far planned for several projects. Top two Iranian car manufacturers are ready to invest in the automobile sector by setting up local production facilities, among other things. Iran Foreign Investment Company is prepared to activate joint assets, including Misr-Iran Development Bank (MIDBank), Misr-Iran Textile Company (MIRATEX), Iran-o-Misr Shipping Company, and a carpet trading company, all of which could be easily operationalized. Some airlines have also proposed their plans to launch a direct route between the two countries, use Egypt’s airspace to reach Africa, and carry passengers from the region to Egypt.

In terms of economic efforts which can bring in hard currency, plans also have been made for student exchange, technology transfer, providing engineering services, operating tours for one million tourists per year, collaboration on knowledge-based companies, and oil and gas cooperation.

Four decades of severed relations has undoubtedly created a huge gap in bilateral relations. The latest regional developments and novel alignments require Tehran and Cairo to improve their relation beyond merely maintaining interests sections to a desired political level, as has happened with Turkey and Qatar which revived their relations with Egypt. 

Egypt’s friendly and ever-expanding ties with Iraq and Syria pave the ground for expansion of bilateral cooperation. As recently noted by the head of Iran’s Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, Kamal Kharrazi, “Egypt, Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar could resolve most of the regional issues and tensions through dialogue.”

The political will for expansion of relations is being fostered more than ever and the foundation laid in the region, especially in the shadow of Russia-Ukraine war, has doubled the necessity for maintaining this will.

Iran and Egypt have taken measures, through friendly countries like Iraq, to surpass the current level of relations. And, given the interactive atmosphere prevailing in the region, especially the recent developments in Iran’s relations with several Arab states, it seems that the promotion of Iran-Egypt relations is more likely than ever to be materialized, inshallah.