Iran protests Egypt MPs’ presence at opposition rally in France

Tehran accuses Cairo, with which it broke off diplomatic relations in 1980, of supporting ‘terrorist group’

By AFP 14 July 2016, 2:16 pm

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Supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran,demonstrate against the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's visit to Paris, Jan. 28, 2016. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran has summoned Egypt’s top envoy in Tehran to “strongly protest” the attendance of Egyptian lawmakers at an annual rally of an exiled opposition group, state media said.

An Iranian foreign ministry official called the presence of a group of Egyptian MPs at the National Council of Resistance in Iran (NCRI) gathering in France on Saturday “a clear interference in our domestic affairs.”

Tehran accused the parliamentarians of supporting the “terrorist group,” which includes the former rebel People’s Mujahedeen of Iran (MEK).

“Egyptian authorities are expected to adopt responsible and principled policies and take steps toward preserving peace and stability in the region,” the Iranian official said, quoted late Wednesday by the official IRNA news agency.

President of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (CNRI) Maryam Radjavi arrives to the National Council of Resistance of Iran (CNRI) annual meeting on July 9, 2016, in Le Bourget, near Paris. (AFP PHOTO / ALAIN JOCARD)

It did not identify the envoy who was summoned but Egypt’s diplomatic mission in Tehran is headed by Khalid Emara.

Ibrahim Abdel Wahab, an Egyptian lawmaker and member of the foreign relations parliamentary committee, confirmed he had participated in the rally along with nine other Egyptian MPs and public figures.

“This is not a formal participation. We received personal invitations and decided to participate to support the Iranian opposition,” Abdel Wahab told AFP from Paris, without giving more details.

He confirmed that the parliament deputy speaker Suleiman Wahdan and another member of the defense and national security committee had also attended the rally.

Tehran broke off diplomatic relations with Cairo in 1980 a year after Iran’s Islamic Revolution, in protest at Egypt’s signing of a peace treaty with Israel and hosting of the deposed shah.

The two countries maintain only interests sections in each other’s capitals.

The envoy for his part stressed that Egypt does not meddle in the domestic affairs of other countries, IRNA reported.

Tehran has also summoned the French ambassador over the annual rally held at Le Bourget, near Paris, by the NCRI, which said that 100,000 Iranians had attended.