Iran calls for restoring ties with Egypt: lawmaker

An Iranian lawmaker called for the restoration of Iran-Egypt relations, the local satellite Press TV reported on Tuesday.

"Iran and Egypt are two great Muslim countries and the deterioration of Tehran-Cairo relations over the past decades has inflicted a serious damage to the world of Islam," Mahmoud Ahmadi Biqash was quoted as saying.

"The Iranian and Egyptian nations cannot be separated because the two Muslim states enjoy old civilizations and can combat their enemies through cooperation and unity," Ahmadi Biqash said on Monday.

Egypt and Iran agreed Sunday to resume direct flights between the two countries for the first time since 1979 by signing a new agreement in the air transport field.

Egypt and Iran do not have full diplomatic relations since Iran 's 1979 Islamic revolution, when Iran cut ties after Egypt gave asylum to the deposed Iranian Shah in Cairo and made peace with Israel.

Source: Xinhua