Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, concludes his speech in parliament in Tehran, Iran, on February 2013. — AP Photo

TEHRAN: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad left Tehran on Tuesday for the first visit to Egypt by an Iranian head of state since Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution, promising to work towards strengthening bilateral ties.

Ahmadinejad during the three-day visit will attend an Organisation of Islamic Cooperation conference in Cairo as well as meet with Egyptian officials and politicians, the official IRNA news agency reported.

“I will try to pave the ground for developing cooperation between Iran and Egypt,” Ahmadinejad told reporters before leaving Tehran.

Without elaborating, he said the visit would “definitely influence the bilateral ties” between Tehran and Cairo.

Egypt has responded cautiously to Iranian efforts to revive ties since President Mohamed Morsi took power in 2012, with the two nations adopting opposing positions on the Syrian conflict.

Iran supports the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, while Egypt has been a leading voice in urging his departure – along with regional heavyweights Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar.

“If Tehran and Cairo see more eye to eye on regional and international issues, many (issues) will change,” Ahmadinejad was quoted by IRNA as saying.

Tehran severed ties with Cairo in 1980 in protest at a peace agreement between Egypt and Israel by then Egyptian president Anwar Sadat.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.