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Iran and Egypt Chart New Course in Relationship

Stronger ties between Iran and Egypt will improve regional stability, Kayhan Barzegar writes.
Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi (R) greets Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as Turkish President Abdullah Gul look on before meeting at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Cairo February 6, 2013. Leaders of Islamic nations called for a negotiated end to Syria's civil war at a summit in Cairo that began on Wednesday, thrusting Egypt's new Islamist president to centre stage amid turbulence at home. REUTERS/Egyptian Presidency/Handout (EGYPT - Tags: POLITICS) ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS I

The January 2011 revolution in Egypt changed the nature of Iran-Egypt relations. Unlike the old Egypt under Hosni Mubarak, which perceived Iran as its main threat, the new Egypt seeks close relations with Iran in the broader context of regional cooperation in solving regional issues, such as that of the Syrian crisis. This development may create a new power equation in the region that can potentially redefine the role of global players in the greater Middle East, such as the United States and Russia.

Iran and Egypt enjoy a unique position in the region’s political makeup. Both have a strong historical and cultural background that enrich their national identity, providing them legitimacy and respective leadership roles in affecting new regional settings.

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