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Egypt sets conditions for dialogue with Iran

Egypt's foreign minister has made a list of measures Iran must take before the two countries can discuss normalizing relations, but it's doubtful that he really expects Iran to meet them.

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Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry addresses the Opening Meeting of the 2015 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in regard to Iran at the United Nations headquarters in New York, April 27, 2015. — REUTERS/Mike Segar

CAIRO — When Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi took office in June 2014, he invited Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to attend the inauguration ceremony, which sparked talk about a possible restoration of relations between the two countries.

During a March 31 interview with the Saudi newspaper Okaz, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said resumption of relations must be tied to several factors. Mainly, he said, Iran needs to change its approach and policies regarding the situation in the region; demonstrate a desire to build relations based on mutual cooperation, respect and parity of interests; respect Arab states' independence and sovereignty; and practice non-interventionism.

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