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Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki (Reuters) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 20:20 12/12/2007 Iran, Egypt hold first 'constructive talks' since row over pro-Israel leader's killer By Reuters Tags: Anwar Sadat, Egypt, Iran  Senior Iranian and Egyptian officials held a rare meeting in Tehran on Wednesday, Iranian state media reported. The talks were the countries' first to be billed as "constructive" since an attempt to restore ties in 2003 broke down over differing attitudes to Israel. The 2003 talks failed when Iran rejected Egypt's demand that it remove a Tehran memorial of Khaled al-Islambouli, leader of the group which in 1981orchestrated the assassination of Anwar Sadat, the Egyptian leader who made peace with Israel. Iran is fiercely opposed to Israel. Tehran also still has a street named after Islambouli, however Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad said in May that Tehran was ready to revive ties with Egypt and open an embassy in Cairo, which Egypt's foreign minister described at the time as 'positive'. Advertisement Prior to the failed 2003 talks, Iran and Egypt had no diplomatic relations for almost three decades, since Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution. On Wednesday, Egyptian Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Derar discussed bilateral, regional and international issues with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, the IRNA news agency said. The meet came in the wake of Ahmadinejad's statement on Tuesday that Iran and Egypt are "two brotherly nations", in which he suggested he would visit Cairo if ties were restored, the official IRNA news agency said. "Both sides described the talks as constructive and called for the continuation of such talks," it said, adding the Egyptian official delivered a message to Mottaki from Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit. In September, Egypt and Iran held talks at a senior level in Cairo on restoring full ties, and Egypt said dialogue would continue. Egypt and Iran maintain interests sections in Tehran and Cairo and their ministers interact at international gatherings, but their senior officials do not often exchange visits. Iranian media: Saudis invite Ahmadinejad to Mecca for hajj Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has invited Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the hajj, the annual Muslim pilgrimage, Iran's state-run news agency, IRNA, reported Wednesday. Iran's ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Mohammed Hosseini, said Ahmadinejad was invited as a special guest to the U.S. ally, IRNA quoted him as saying. The invitation was the first time a Saudi king has officially asked an Iranian president to participate in the pilgrimage, the agency said. There was no immediate confirmation by Saudi officials of the invitation. The hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia is a once-in-a-lifetime duty for Muslims, millions of people make the trip annually. The hajj will take place next week, though many people have already started arriving in Mecca. During a press conference Tuesday, Ahmadinejad said if he would go to the hajj if an invitation was extended. "It is only respectful to respond positively to an invitation from a brother," he said. Saudi Arabia, a majority Sunni Muslim country, and other Gulf Arab countries - who are all U.S. allies - have been worried over the increasing regional influence, rival of Shiite-dominated Iran. But the invitation appeared to reflect a readiness from Saudi Arabia to reach out to its neighbor. It comes about a week after the a U.S. intelligence report said Iran had ended a nuclear weapons program four years ago. Ahmadinejad visited Saudi Arabia twice this year, first in March and again last month to attend a rare head-of-state summit for the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. Related articles: Egypt, Iran conduct talks aimed at restoring diplomatic relations Egypt slams Ahmadinejad for saying Iran is a nuclear power Egypt on Iran: We will not accept a new nuclear power New book claims German urged Iran to buy Pakistan nuke tech Source: Saudis, Iran working on deal to end Lebanon crisis Saudis propose Mideast consortium to defuse Iran nuke issue Bookmark to del.icio.us Humanitarian Crisis The Red Cross says conditions have worsened in Palestinian areas. 'Sacred basin' At Camp David, Israel pushed for a body to ensure religious freedom in J'lem for all.   1.   Increasing isolation of Iran ? ! 18:57  |  Iranian-American 12/12/07   2.   Sadat attacked Israel in October 1973 Yom Kippur War 19:32  |  Historian 12/12/07   3.   2003 was a year for Iranian peace overtures 19:50  |  Pablo B 12/12/07   4.   Re: #2 21:34  |  Better Historian 12/12/07   5.   Hysterian 22:22  |  Phil 12/12/07   6.   Historian, Sadat 22:28  |  Philip 12/12/07   7.   The Arabs should embrace Iran 22:51  |  The Arab Hammer 12/12/07   8.   Your history is a joke 22:51  |  Ahmed 12/12/07   9.   Annapolis is over 23:49  |  Mark Lincoln 12/12/07   10.   Iran Egypt 00:30  |  Mustafa 13/12/07   11.   POWER TALKS, LIARS WALK 01:29  |  indrajaya 13/12/07   12.   The Arabs are betting on Iran; the US is beaten by.. 01:58  |  World Traveler 13/12/07   13.   the US 02:08  |  JJ 13/12/07   14.   Saudis and Egypt see Iran is way of future - despite US/Israel 02:34  |  1 state solution 13/12/07   15.   4-6 more modest historians-cite your sources 02:57  |  Historian 13/12/07   16.   Historian`s (#2) points well taken 04:40  |  D.R. Zukerman 13/12/07   17.   Sources - Historian 13:09  |  Philip 13/12/07   18.   Sources - Historian 13:11  |  Philip 13/12/07   19.   Does anyone remember? 03:49  |  Ω 14/12/07

Today Online Document reveals progress on core issues at Camp David Responses: 267 Rosner: U.S. report on Iran should have been tossed, not published Responses: 87 Red Cross: Israel worsening Palestinian humanitarian crisis Responses: 129 Russia: Deal reached with Iran on nuclear plant construction Responses: 48 Avineri: U.S. only effective on Mideast conflict in war or talks Responses: 50 Rosner's Domain Who believes in intelligence reports? American Jews are losing interest in Israel Guest: Redivision of Jerusalem will lead to terrible bloodshed 3 'close' Orthodox for every 'close' Reform (What To Read) More Headlines 23:44 Barak declares 'special situation' in Sderot 03:48 Israel accepts most of U.S. intelligence analysis on Iran 03:50 Abbas to blast Israel for building in settlements, E. Jerusalem 01:07 Bush warns Syria not to interfere in Lebanese politics 19:09 Greek historian convicted over book denying the Holocaust 23:11 IAF strike kills 3 Palestinians detected launching Qassam 02:03 Record number of students to take part in Birthright Israel this year 02:24 Rabbinical Court to discuss whether to remove Ashkenazi chief rabbi 23:37 U.S. ambassador to UN calls Iran report a 'goal against ourselves' Previous Editions Select Day 13 dec 12 dec 11 dec 10 dec 09 dec 07 dec 06 dec 05 dec 04 dec 03 dec 02 dec 30 nov

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