Egypt's Mursi to visit Iran
Cairo, 19 Aug - (ANA) - Egypt's Islamist President Mohamed Mursi will visit Iran to attend the Non-Aligned Movement meetings on August 30, Egyptian state news agency MENA said, the first such visit by an Egyptian head of state to Tehran since the Islamic revolution. MENA quoted sources at the Egyptian presidency saying that Mursi "will participate in the summit" on his way back from China. Egyptian media reports have suggested Mursi might send his newly appointed deputy, Mahmoud Mekki, instead.Since Egypt's Hosni Mubarak was toppled in a popular uprising last year, Egypt and Iran have signalled interest in renewing ties severed more than 30 years ago after Iran's Islamic Revolution and Egypt's recognition of Israel. However, with the West pushing Iran to halt its disputed nuclear programme and the United States being a major donor to Egypt's military, any improvement in ties could become a tricky path to tread. In June, Mursi had threatened to sue an Iranian news agency after it quoted him as saying he was interested in restoring relations with Tehran. Mursi aides said the interview was a fabrication.(ANA)
FA/ANA/19 August 2012---------