Iranian Air plane (Archives)
Photo: AFP
US cautions Egypt against doing business with Iran
State Department regrets Cairo's renewed flight agreement with Tehran; urges all nations not to pursue financial ties with Islamic Republic until it meets international obligations
Washington has expressed its regret over Egypt's recent decision to renew direct flights between Cairo and Tehran, after more than 30 years.
The two nations have reportedly agreed to see 28 weekly flights between them – 14 in each direction.
Financial Vise
New measures aim to choke off Islamic Republic's access to imports of refined petroleum products, curb its access to international banking system.' With these sanctions and others we are striking at the heart of the Iranian government's ability to fund and develop its nuclear programs,' US president says
"We continue to urge all countries – including Egypt – not to pursue any new business deals until Iran complies with its international obligations," Toner said.
"Given the current atmosphere... we're trying to discourage this kind of engagement with Iran, until it owns up to its international obligations," he stressed.
Egypt is one of the United States' most important allies in the Middle East.
Hamid Baghaei, an Iranian vice president and the head of culture and tourism, told Tehran State Television that the agreement was "one of the most valuable economic agreements that have been signed between Iran and Egypt over the past 30 years," adding that it could be a first step toward issuing visas to Egyptian and Iranian citizens and otherwise furthering ties between the two usually states.
Still, Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hossam Zaki stressed that business ties aside, political ties were a different matter.
Egypt originally cut ties with Iran shortly after the Iranian Revolution of 1978.
AFP contributed to this report
- Follow Ynetnews on Facebook
