Senior Iranian and Egyptian officials hold rare meeting

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Senior Iranian and Egyptian officials held talks here Wednesday, in a rare meeting between two countries that broke off ties nearly three decades ago, Iran's state-run news agency, IRNA, reported. Egyptian Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein met with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, with both stressing the continuation of "constructive" dialogue between the two countries, IRNA said. Hussein also submitted a written message from Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit to Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, the agency said without providing more details. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made an offer to re-establish ties with Egypt, a strong US ally, in a speech in May, saying his country was ready to open an embassy in Cairo as soon as Egypt agreed to do the same in Teheran.