Egypt announced on Sunday its support for the establishment of a regional contact group on Syria, which would include Iran, as “part of the solution” to the Syrian crisis.
Egyptian President Mohammad Mursi had proposed the idea at this month’s Organization of Islamic Cooperation summit in Mecca, saying Saudi Arabia and Turkey, two countries supporting the Syrian opposition forces, should also be part of the group.
Yassir Ali, a spokesman for Mursi, told reporters: “Solving the problem demands that all parties active in the region are invited.” He added that: “If this group succeeds, Iran would be part of the solution and not the problem.”
Mursi is scheduled to visit Tehran this week for the NAM Summit. This will be the first time an Egyptian president has visited Iran since the two countries broke all diplomatic ties after the 1979 Iranian Revolution.
As reporters speculated on the restoration of relations between Iran and Egypt, Yassir Ali commented that Mursi’s visit will be dedicated solely to the summit and “no other subject is expected” to be discussed.
Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi had declared Iran’s hope to restore normal ties with Egypt.
