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Last update - 11:15 28/01/2008 Iran says it is close to resuming ties with Egypt cut in 1979 By Reuters Tags: Egypt, Gaza Strip, Iran Iran is close to resuming full diplomatic relations with Egypt, its foreign minister said on Monday, but did not say when the ties that have been cut for almost three decades would be re-established. Iran broke ties with Egypt in 1979 after then Egyptian President Anwar Sadat let in the deposed shah of Iran. The two countries now have diplomatic representation through interest sections and not full embassies at ambassador level. "We are on the verge of resuming official political ties with Egypt," Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told a news conference in Tehran. Advertisement Egyptian officials have previously been more cautious about the timing of resuming ties. Cairo has said a Tehran street named after the assassin of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat should be changed and murals in the Iranian capital of the assassin removed. Some security issues also need to be resolved, Egyptian officials have said. "Now my representative is in Egypt and he has taken my special message to my counterpart and now Iran and Egypt's relationship is going ahead in a natural way," Mottaki said without giving further details. Ali Asghar Mohammmadi, an assistant Iranian foreign minister for Middle East and North Africa affairs, is visiting Cairo and held talks on the Palestinian issue, Egypt's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. There were no immediate details about a special message. Mottaki's comments follow the first direct talks between Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and his Iranian counterpart, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The two discussed the Palestinian issue and other regional matters in a telephone call last week. Iran offers to help Egypt deal with chaos at Gaza Strip border Iran on Sunday offered to help Egypt deal with growing chaos on its breached border with Gaza, Egypt's Foreign Ministry said. The offer came during Mohammadi's visit to Cairo. Mohammadi offered Iran's cooperation with Egypt to provide help to the Palestinians, said Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki. He did not give details of the Iranian offer, but said Egypt welcomes cooperation between the two countries through their Red Crescent branches. Five days ago, militants blew apart the border fence separating Egypt and the Gaza Strip, allowing tens of thousands of Palestinians to flow into Egyptian territory. The situation has garnered regional attention, with Arab foreign ministers holding an emergency meeting late Sunday about the matter. Related articles: Palestinians stream back to Gaza as Egypt chokes off supplies Officials: Israel won't tolerate continued threats to security Bookmark to del.icio.us   Painful lessons The IDF has already learnt lessons of the Second Lebanon War. Brothers in guilt 'We are all guilty; is an effective summary of the final Winograd report.   1.   Iran will help.... 02:32  |  Avi 28/01/08   2.   Isn`t it ironic how the iIanians met with the Egyptians 02:35  |  Avi 28/01/08   3.   And have the fox guard the chicken coop... 03:09  |  Margie 28/01/08   4.   Oh Iran, You Who Have Nothing Good To Offer .. 03:49  |  Lavi 28/01/08   5.   i think its a great idea! have hezbollah guard the rafah gate :) 04:04  |  Assad-u-LLAH 28/01/08   6.   #3 Margie in Tel Aviv. "The chicken coup," eh Margie? 04:32  |  Maureen Ann 28/01/08   7.   Iran 04:41  |  john 28/01/08   8.   The Brilliance of George Bush 05:19  |  Mark of Lewiston 28/01/08   9.   Laugh 05:35  |  Yonni 28/01/08   10.   bravo iran&egypt good move 06:19  |  baller 28/01/08   11.   Iran getting in on the act 06:43  |  Born Acynic 28/01/08   12.   appears Egypt does not care much about the Sinai, 07:26  |  commonsense 28/01/08   13.   it would make sense to put iranians and hezbolla at ragah gate 08:21  |  Assad-u-LLAH 28/01/08   14.   iran treachery 08:25  |  Sam 28/01/08   15.   Oh Iran, You Who Have Nothing Good To Offer .. 08:33  |  Lavi 28/01/08   16.   # 10 commonsense 08:35  |  Jim 28/01/08   17.   hmmmmm...now THAT`S a spooky thought! 08:56  |  eric 28/01/08   18.   erratum 10:06  |  Jim 28/01/08   19.   17: Eric, unsurprisingly, has it backwards 10:34  |  David Teich 28/01/08   20.   Egypt is gradually converting to Shi`a , 14:11  |  Joseph . E 28/01/08   21.   #19 David Teich proves the dictum 14:15  |  Johnboy 28/01/08   22.   Great news! 14:16  |  Egyptian 28/01/08   23.   Egypt should tell Iran to go to hell 14:20  |  Conroy 28/01/08   24.   See who is rejoicing at this 14:43  |  Hastaroth 28/01/08   25.   21: JB`s back and barking 17:39  |  David Teich 28/01/08   26.   What will egypt gain from that- big zero 18:03  |  Abdul Aziz Higazi 28/01/08   27.   Ahmadinedjad knows an Egyptian is looking into his nuke program 18:37  |  81 tons of dust 28/01/08   28.   to Assad-u-LLAH #5 18:46  |  Ahmose The Egyptian 28/01/08   29.   # 19 teich the propagandist makes a fatal error(2nd try) 07:21  |  eric 29/01/08   30.   # 21 to johnboy 07:24  |  eric 29/01/08   31.   Iran says 07:53  |  bmjd74 31/01/08   32.   29: Fatal error, eric? ROTFL 12:41  |  David Teich 31/01/08   33.   30: Eric sorry about the previous title (2nd try) 17:23  |  David Teich 01/02/08

Today Online Three wounded in attack on Israeli embassy in Mauritania Responses: 210 Colette Avital: Evangelical donations to Israel are disturbing Responses: 91 U.K. Jewish group slams Gaza blocakde, sparks controversy Responses: 96 Gadi BenMark: Israel needs an Arabic version of 'Hatikva' Responses: 69 Amnesty Int'l: Israel's war crimes ignored by Winograd report Responses: 129 Rosner's Domain Not despite Iraq - because of Iraq Super Tuesday: Counting the Jewish votes (WTR) Poll: Is there a "constant virulent campaign" against Obama? The campaign for Darfur has achieved all its goals - but one Rosner's Guest: Anti-Israel activities often turn anti-Semitic More Headlines 00:40 Egypt thwarts Hamas plan to attack Israeli tourists in Sinai 00:06 Israeli Arabs protest AG decision on killings during Oct. 2000 riots 15:44 Three hurt in attack on Israeli embassy in Mauritania 19:56 Defense official: Hasidim put IDF soldiers' lives at risk in Nablus 14:54 Bloggers try to counter anti-Israel media bias with bad news on other states 14:36 British Jewish group sparks new outrage with condemnation of Gaza blockade 22:34 Man, 50, found dead in Dimona; police suspect murder 11:57 Report: Meshal says abducted IDF soldier Shalit 'alive and well' 19:09 Turkish Airlines jet and Israir plane in near collision at Ben-Gurion 16:55 Czech court overturns ban on neo-Nazi march past city synagogue 13:06 Hamas frees Fayyad advisor detained in Gaza over a month ago 10:57 UNESCO chief: We are trying to mediate over Temple Mount bridge 11:04 Top IDF brass: Winograd report on Lebanon war an 'earthquake' Previous Editions Select Day 01 feb 31 jan 30 jan 29 jan 28 jan 27 jan 25 jan 24 jan 23 jan 22 jan 21 jan 20 jan

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