Bipartite Relations between Iran and Egypt:Opportunities, Challenges, and Perspectives of Future

Among most important and debatable issues in the post-revolutionary Iranian foreign policy are relations between Iran and Egypt. Considering the political conflicts in the macro level, the dominant discourse on relations between Iran and Egypt has been based on mutual agreement and cooperation because of similarity in religious approach and the precedence of political independentism from the foreigners as well as attempt at playing a crucial role in making human civilization. The shock out of the Camp-David Treaty as a major cause and divergence in global and regional policies of the two countries as a result of formation a new and independent discourse on Iranian foreign policy after the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran as well as close relations between Egypt and USA as secondary causes have disturbed the relations between Iran and Egypt. As well the antagonism between Iran and USA over American policies in Middle East and other points of the world, the protection of Islamist groups on the part of Iran, and Cairo’s cooperation with Washington and Tel Aviv have been continuously disputable. More than to decades after breaking off the diplomatic relations, the occurrence of such important events as the fall of the Soviet Union, the occupation of Kuwait by Iraq, the September 11 event, and the attack to Afghanistan and the occupation of Iraq by USA made a new atmosphere, drawing Tehran’s and Cairo’s attention to the fact that, apart from some disagreement between the two countries, many good collaboration on regional political-security issues and problems related to Islamist world can be formed, so that sharing similar ideas between them are necessary. Therefore, it seems that firm decision for making a continuous diplomatic dialogue as well as fulfillment of normal political relations in the future is so possible.