WASHINGTON — US congressional rhetoric and actions humiliate and frustrate Egypt’s leaders, the country’s defense attaché told Al-Monitor in an exclusive interview, adding that tensions threaten to erode an already fragile trust since the revolution.

“Every day we wake up in the morning and we see somebody from the Hill is threatening and they say we have to cut the aid, we have to hold the aid,” Maj. Gen. Mohamed Elkeshky said. “It hurts our dignity and our sovereignty. And you find the public opinion in Egypt also says it’s enough.”

President Barack Obama’s administration has sought to nurture productive relationships — and the potential influence that might come with them — in dealing with the new government of President Mohammed Morsi, who took office in June. At the same time, US officials have expressed caution over the Muslim Brotherhood’s intentions, and voiced outrage at incidents such as the prosecution of NGO workers and last month’s breach by protesters at the US Embassy in Cairo.

“There’s a strong desire on the part of the US. government to support civilian control in Egypt and sustain our close ties with the Egyptian military,’’ a senior US official told Al-Monitor. “We believe there’s a payoff for both sides in establishing a new normal.”