Iran and Egypt Chart New Course in Relationship
Stronger ties between Iran and Egypt will improve regional stability, Kayhan Barzegar writes.
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.
The two nations are also representative of a powerful political-security dimension in the region’s power equations. Each global player ultimately needs one of these two countries to enhance its influence in regional affairs. For instance, Russia has used its traditional ties with Iran to throw its weight in the region, while the United States was largely dependent on Mubarak’s Egypt for a similar role.
Iran and Egypt are also representing two important ideological trends that have roots in their domestic politics and foreign policy orientations: Iran being representative of Shiite Islamism and Egypt similarly through the Sunni Muslim Brotherhood and Al-Azhar.
