The Shah of Iran's Funeral in 1979 in Cairo
A recent comment by the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, during his visit to the United States, has caused an outrage among some Iranian officials, once again highlighting the tense relationship shared between the two countries. According to the Fars News Agency, addressing Jewish leaders in a closed meeting in Washington, President Mubarak said, “There is a rift within the Iranian leadership, and the best way (to deal with its nuclear program) is to wait. An attack would only rally the Iranians around their leadership.” Furthermore, Mehr News Agency reported that President Mubarak told President Obama that Iran interferes in Arab countries’ internal affairs. Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hassan Qashqavi questioned the remarks, stating, “We assess such statements far from the realities dominating the region.” He added, “We don’t know the goal pursued by certain remarks uttered against the Islamic Republic despite the Iranian officials’ self-restraint and good intentions in relations with Egypt.”
While Iran has a testy relationship with most Arab countries, its relationship with Egypt can be described as the most bitter. Egypt remains the only Arab country without an embassy in Tehran. Their sour relationship dates back to beginning days of Islamic Republic, when Egypt’s decision to shelter Iran’s deposed Shah angered many in the Iranian government. The relationship worsened with Egypt’s support to Iraq in the Iran-Iraq War. Approximately two thirds of Egypt’s military exports went to assist Iraq during the war.
The Israeli- Egyptian peace treaty signed by Egyptian President Anwar Sadat is viewed disapprovingly by the Iranian government and has also caused friction between the two countries. Iran has often portrayed President Sadat’s assassinator, Khaled al-Islambuli, as being a martyr, even naming one of Tehran’s main road after him. Most recent controversy to rise due to Islambuli’s depiction as a martyr was in July 2008, when Iran’s state television network aired a documentary titled “The Assassination of a Pharaoh”. The film praised Islambuli and vilified President Sadat as “a treacherous Pharaoh”. Naturally, the film enraged the Egyptian officials.
Iran’s growing influence in the region and its relationship with Shi’ites in Iraq, Hizbullah in Lebanon, and especially Hamas in Palestine has been source of Egyptian opprobrium. This can be seen clearly through the statements made by the Egyptian officials. As reported in a MERIP article, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Abu Gheit, outlining Egypt’s position on Iran, stated:
“Iran is an influential power in the Gulf. For the last two or three years… it has been trying to involve itself in Arab problems so as to gain influence that will serve it in its struggle vis-à-vis the West. Thus, Egypt believes that Iran has a problem with the Arab world, and that its interference in [Arab] problems is detrimental to Arab interests. This is Egypt’s position at this stage…
Egypt is trying to convey the following message to Iran: Do not insist on making Arab problems your business [and an element in] your relations with the [West] and with the [U.N.] Security Council. You must strive to reach a reasonable and peaceful settlement with the international community [regarding your nuclear dossier], through [dialogue with] the IAEA and the Security Council. Otherwise, there will be negative consequences for you, which will inevitably be very harmful for the entire region. Egypt, [in the meantime,] is trying to ensure the stability of the region, since stability paves the way to development. That is one aspect [of our position towards Iran].
Finally, there is the matter of Egypt’s position regarding the region, as opposed to Iran’s… Were we to ignore Iran’s influence in the Lebanese issue, for example, or its relations with Hizbullah; were we to ignore [Iran’s] relations with Hamas and its ability to support it, strengthen it and influence its positions; were we to ignore Iran’s presence in the south and other regions of Iraq, and its contacts with its long-standing [allies in that country] – [were we to ignore all this] we would be shutting its eyes [to reality]… The Arab problems in the region should be dealt with by the Arabs, and not by other forces inside or outside the region…”
Lastly, as one of the biggest U.S. aid recipient, Egypt worries that renewing relations with Iran may jeopardize its relationship with the United States.
Though the two countries have made some effort to establish diplomatic relationship, most notably under President Khatami, the recent months have seen a further deterioration in the relationship. In April 2009, Egypt accused Iran of being behind the planning of terror attacks against targets in Egypt by Hezbollah. The Egyptian government has also not officially congratulated President Ahmadinejad’s re-election victory. It seems like for now the tense relationship between the two will continue.
Photo taken from Flickr.
