Egypt's Mohammed Morsi in Iran: Genius or Amateur?
The NAM summit invitation was a catch-22 for Morsi. If he declined, it would have made a strong anti-Iran statement. Choosing to go, however, made Egypt’s neighbors and the US nervous. Ultimately, the Egyptian president went to Tehran, but spoke boldly against the Assad regime, a staunch Iranian ally. With that move, he made all parties both happy and unhappy.
This week, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in Tehran opened to what some considered rather surprising rhetoric on the Syrian uprising, especially given the context. This demonstrated two things: That Egypt’s newly elected Islamist president, Mohammed Morsi, is conscious of the diplomatic game and will adamantly pursue the independence of Egyptian foreign policy. And that Iran's Islamic regime will stop at nothing to prove that they are not isolated.
In his speech to the opening of the NAM summit, the Egyptian president expressed solidarity with the “struggle of those who are demanding freedom and justice in Syria…” Cue sentiments of support for Morsi’s stance and his trip to Iran. A switch from the criticism he faced after the announcement that he would attend the conference.
The NAM summit invitation was a catch-22 for Morsi. If he had declined, given that he had to hand the presidency of NAM over to the Iranians, it would have been quite pointed; a strong anti-Iran statement. Choosing to go, as he did, was deemed foolish. What better way to make Egypt’s regional neighbors and the US nervous? He would have attracted criticism whether he went or not.
Morsi chose to go to Tehran on his way back from a state visit to China, and only for a few hours (four, to be exact). When invited to stay longer and possibly tour an Iranian nuclear site on the side-lines of the summit, Morsi declined, citing pressing commitments at home. In addition, his spokesperson was at pains to highlight that “no other topic is expected” to be discussed, limiting the interaction between both states.
