Egypt eyes Iran's overtures with suspicion
Tehran wants to expand its influence in the Mideast, analysts say, but its ties to militants worry Cairo.
TEHRAN — If you want to make peace with a nation, it's probably not a good idea to have a street named after the assassin of its leader.
That dilemma speaks to the wider tensions and recriminations between Egypt and Iran, whose relations ruptured when Egyptian President Anwar Sadat granted asylum to the deposed Iranian shah and signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1979. Sadat was gunned down in 1981 by a group of Islamists led by Khalid Islambouli, an Egyptian soldier who was later memorialized with a street in Tehran.
Iran has made a series of overtures in recent months to overcome the bruised past and restore full diplomatic relations with Egypt. Cairo has remained coolly noncommittal. The sensitivity surrounding whispers of detente comes as Iran has risen as a power in the Middle East while Egypt, an American ally with severe domestic problems, has slipped from its stature as the leading voice in the Arab world.
Egypt has long been uncomfortable with its peace with Israel, and its relations with Washington have been strained since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. Cairo also is increasingly suspicious of the ambitions of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has taken an active role in foreign policy, jetting from India to Qatar to capitalize on Iran's oil reserves and the popular appeal of his anti-Western defiance.
Iran needs Egypt to further extend Tehran's influence and legitimacy in the Middle East, said Sadr Hussiani, founder of the Iran-Egypt Friendship Council, a Tehran-based organization made up of businessmen and former government advisors. He said improved ties would benefit both capitals, adding that Iran's growing political clout "can help revive Egypt in the Arab world."
Iranian policies, however, have led to regional instability that has often infuriated the Egyptians. Tehran supports the anti-Israeli Islamist groups Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Hamas has ideological and strategic links to the Muslim Brotherhood, the banned opposition party that presents the biggest threat to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The Egyptians contend that Iran is exploiting its relationship with Hamas to keep Cairo on edge over fears of a spreading Islamic militancy.
