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See - Sada Elbalad
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- See - Sada Elbalad
Iranian Deputy FM Highlights Importance of Strengthening Ties with Egypt
Nada Mustafa Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister (FM) Abbas Araghchi emphasized the importance of continuing consultations with Egypt to expand bilateral relations and promote peace and stability in the region. His remarks came during a meeting with Mojtaba Ferdosipour, the newly appointed head of the Iranian Interests Section in Cairo. According to Iran's Mehr News Agency on Sunday, Ferdosipour held talks with Araghchi on Saturday night before departing for Cairo. During the meeting, Ferdosipour presented a report on the current state of relations between Tehran and Cairo, along with a proposed plan to enhance bilateral ties in areas of mutual interest. Araghchi expressed satisfaction with the growing frequency of contacts and meetings between Iranian and Egyptian officials. Ferdosipour previously served as Iran's chargé d'affaires in both Jordan and Lebanon and was also the head of the Center for Persian Gulf and Middle East Studies at the Institute for Political and International Studies. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Arts & Culture "Jurassic World Rebirth" Gets Streaming Date Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Arts & Culture South Korean Actress Kang Seo-ha Dies at 31 after Cancer Battle News "Tensions Escalate: Iran Probes Allegations of Indian Tech Collaboration with Israeli Intelligence" Sports Get to Know 2025 WWE Evolution Results News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks
Al-Ahram Weekly
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Turkey embassy marks Democracy and National Unity Day in Cairo - City Lights - Life & Style
The Turkish embassy in Egypt marked the ninth anniversary of the 15 July coup attempt with a solemn commemoration aimed at reaffirming Turkey's unwavering commitment to democratic governance, national unity, and regional cooperation. The Embassy of Turkey in Cairo commemorated the 15 July Democracy and National Unity Day with a solemn ceremony that paid tribute to the resilience of the Turkish nation in the face of the failed 2016 coup attempt. The event underscored Turkey's democratic journey and national solidarity under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. # Held at the official headquarters of the Turkish Embassy in Cairo, the ceremony was attended by approximately 250 guests, including ambassadors and diplomatic representatives from countries such as Azerbaijan, Albania, Brunei, Indonesia, the Philippines, Iraq, Qatar, Cambodia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Slovenia, Chile, Singapore, Venezuela, Vietnam, and Tanzania. Also in attendance were the Head of the Iranian Interests Section, the Chargé d'Affaires of the Syrian Embassy in Cairo, prominent Egyptian public figures, members of the Egyptian Senate, academics, journalists, Turkish business leaders, and members of the Turkish community in Egypt. The commemoration began with a visit by embassy staff to the Turkish Martyrs' Cemetery in Cairo, where they observed a moment of silence in remembrance of 4,500 Turkish soldiers who fell on the Palestine front during World War I, as well as those who were martyred during the events of 15 July 2016. A recitation from the Qur'an was followed by prayers for the martyrs. Turkish ambassador Salih Mutlu Şen signed the cemetery's memorial book in honour of the fallen. Turkish embassy marks Democracy and National Unity Day in Cairo (photo credit of the Turkish embassy in Cairo) At the Embassy's formal gathering, attendees observed a moment of silence in remembrance of the victims of 15 July, followed by the national anthems of Turkey and Egypt. The ceremony also featured a documentary presentation and a photographic exhibition curated by the Turkish Presidency's Directorate of Communications. In his keynote address, Ambassador Şen noted that, despite the passage of nine years, the events of 15 July 2016 remain deeply etched in the collective memory of the Turkish nation. He described the date as a turning point in Turkey's modern history, when the will of the people decisively thwarted a treacherous coup attempt orchestrated by the FETO terrorist organisation. 'On that night, the Turkish people stood firmly in defence of their democracy and their legitimately elected leadership,' ambassador Şen stated. 'Citizens confronted tanks and weapons, and many made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the nation's democratic institutions. In doing so, the Republic of Turkey crowned its century-old statehood with an enduring commitment to democracy.' Turkish embassy staff observed a moment of silence in remembrance of 4,500 Turkish soldiers He emphasised that Turkey, having emerged from the brink of chaos on that day, has since demonstrated a steadfast resolve to build a stronger, more prosperous, and more unified future. Ambassador Şen also highlighted Türkiye's historical experience with coups, referencing the military takeovers of 1960, 1971, 1980, 1997, and the early 2000s. He recalled the execution of Prime Minister Adnan Menderes in the wake of the 1960 coup as a national tragedy that continues to resonate with the Turkish people. 'The nation has not forgotten,' he said. 'From those painful lessons, our people defended democracy and President Erdoğan with unwavering resolve.' He described democracy as a hard-won achievement, forged through immense sacrifice and struggle. 'Today, the will of the Turkish people is in safe hands. No force can again contemplate the usurpation of that will.' Ambassador Şen also emphasised Turkey's emergence as a regional and international actor in the political, economic, cultural, and military spheres. He highlighted the country's commitment to peace, security, and development, not only in its immediate region but globally. In this context, Ambassador Şen noted the convergence of vision between Turkey and Egypt under the leadership of Presidents Erdoğan and El-Sisi. He described both nations as committed to fostering peace, economic cooperation, and regional stability. 'Turkey and Egypt share a common understanding regarding the importance of dialogue, consultation, and coordination in addressing regional challenges, particularly those facing the Middle East and the broader Islamic world,' he added. Turning to bilateral economic relations, Ambassador Şen noted that trade between Turkey and Egypt has reached record levels in recent years, citing investments totalling $ 700 million by Turkish companies, with Turkish investors actively expanding their presence in the Egyptian market. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Egypt Independent
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
Iranian Ambassador discusses aftermath of war in exclusive interview
In a private interview, the head of the Iranian Interests Section in Cairo, Ambassador Mohammad Hossein Soltani, said that his country's recent attack on US military bases in Gulf states before the ceasefire came was a response to Washington's attack on Iranian nuclear facilities. Any nuclear agreement with America will not be concluded before it is ratified by the US Congress, he noted, so that no president can come and cancels the agreement, as happened with the 2015 agreement. Sultani also praised Egypt's stance in rejecting America's aggression, while commending the role of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif. He also affirmed his country's right to close the Strait of Hormuz, with expectations indicate that a barrel of oil may reach up to US$400. How do you see the future of the Middle East after the 12-day war with Israel? I believe the Middle East has entered into a new and very complex phase. This is a shared desire of the US and Israel, which they have sought to achieve for decades, in order to implement their diabolical plan for a new Middle East and reshape it as they see fit. However, Iran is aware of these moves by Israel and is confronting them. How would you describe the US attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities? Why were US bases in the Gulf region attacked? Wasn't this considered a provocation to those Arab countries? The attack on the US bases was a natural response to the targeting of Iranian nuclear facilities. This is our right, and no one can blame us for it. We must emphasize that the Gulf states are sister countries. We did not target its people or its territory. Rather, we targeted American bases there, which threaten our national security. We warned Washington against this, telling them it was, 'An eye for an eye.' Regarding America's military aggression against Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities, it is a violation of international law and the UN Charter. It is also a barbaric act that enforces the 'law of the jungle' in dealing with states. This measure was met with rejection and condemnation from the Iranian government and people, as well as from many countries around the world, who are aware of and understand the extent of this 'evil' American move, aimed at stirring up unrest in the Middle East and defending Israel. This is not far removed from what Washington did while supporting Tel Aviv in its criminal war on the Gaza Strip. Why did America intervene in the war on Tehran? Was it to halt negotiations on the nuclear issue, or to cover up the failure of the Israeli Iron Dome? America's terrorist attack on the three nuclear facilities in the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan regions came after Israel's disastrous and unexpected failure. Our military weapons and the expertise of our soldiers and scientists exposed the failure of the Iron Dome. Israel, the illegitimate child of both the US and Europe, failed to achieve the White House's evil goals. Washington intervened by launching strikes against its nuclear facilities, revealing to the world that it is a country that does not seek peace, but rather sponsors terrorism and is mired in war and bloodshed. You say that Iran is working to thwart the new Middle East plan. Can it do so alone? Iran is fulfilling its duties toward its people and its land. This is not far from Egypt's pivotal and important role in the Arab and Islamic region and the Middle East. Cairo's rejection of the plan to forcibly displace Palestinians from their lands has been followed by the entire world, which has followed Egypt's efforts to preserve the Palestinian cause. Both Saudi Arabia and Turkey can make efforts to stop the change in the Middle East. So, how do you view bilateral relations with Egypt, and its position in rejecting America's attack on Tehran? Egypt is a major sister country, and I believe that restoring relations between Cairo and Tehran at this time will thwart the US-Israel's plan to reshape the Middle East. The attacks in Washington and Tel Aviv were the starting point for implementing this project. I note that the position of Egypt, both government and people, is something we hold in high esteem. It is not strange that Egypt, the country of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, would hold its position in rejecting the Israeli-US aggression against Tehran, amidst solidarity and popular calls on social media for victory for Iran. And because the Egyptian people are intelligent, they are fully aware that Iran is part of the fabric of the Islamic nation and is waging a war to defend itself and the region against the evils of the world. We greatly appreciate the statement issued by the Grand Imam, Ahmed al-Tayeb, Sheikh of Al-Azhar, in both Arabic and Persian. It was highly appreciated by the people of Iran and the Islamic world, and we will never forget it. Let me emphasize the high-level bilateral contacts between President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, as well as between Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aty and his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, in addition to numerous bilateral meetings, the most recent of which was in Istanbul. All of these affirm the closeness between Cairo and Tehran and the depth of their relations. In your opinion, why did Israel attack Iran before the sixth round of negotiations with the United States? Israel has had a long-term plan to change the Middle East, which crystalized during the era of US President George H.W. Bush. Therefore, Tel Aviv wants to achieve its goals at any time. We were very close to a nuclear agreement through negotiations with the US, especially in the sixth round, and things were going well – they even asked to discuss the ballistic missile program. However, they were informed that Tehran was limiting its negotiations to the nuclear issue only, and the West wanted to link the nuclear agreement by Tehran into not supporting the resistance and releasing a greater number of Westerners arrested on espionage charges. We entered into negotiations with Trump, and we are fully aware that he has a psychological problem: he wants to sign a 'Trump' agreement, not a nuclear agreement similar to the one that occurred in 2015, during the era of former US President Barack Obama, or with the European Union. And without reaching a final agreement, there can be trust in the US. You accuse the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of submitting a report that appears to be a pretext for Israeli and American intervention, but he denies this. The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, is complicit with both the US and Israel, having submitted biased and inaccurate reports. This was a pretext for criminal intervention. Therefore, our country is reconsidering cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency and suspending relations with it, due to its complicity in aggressive actions by an entity and a state that possesses nuclear weapons against Iran, which does not possess nuclear weapons. This matter confirms the total absence of international law. Your country has discussed the possibility of resuming negotiations. What are your conditions? Any agreement with the US regarding the nuclear deal must be ratified by the US Congress, so that it does not become a decision in the hands of any president who could revoke it at any time. It must also be approved according to a specific agenda within the United Nations. Otherwise, Tehran will not give up on this scenario, especially since Washington has clearly become unconcerned with international peace. Following the attacks, Washington announced that it did not want regime change in Tehran and was seeking negotiations. The US has proven that it cannot be trusted. We will not prepare for a sixth round of negotiations in the Sultanate of Oman while Israel launches terrorist attacks against a peaceful country, and then, 10 days later, Washington launches its own attacks. This confirms that there is US-Israeli coordination. Therefore, we will not accept negotiations until the aggression stops, while emphasizing that we will not compromise on uranium enrichment, for the sake of the Iranian people and their heroic scientists, a number of whom have sacrificed their lives at the hands of Israeli terrorism. The world and the US must realize the seriousness of talk about regime change, which Washington tries to exploit occasionally. The Iranian regime, government and people, are very cohesive and have shown their strength in unity. How would you describe Trump, who seeks the Nobel Peace Prize and then attacks your country? Before assuming his second term, Trump said that if he were in the White House, the Ukrainian-Russian war would have ended. He then stated that he would end it within 24 hours. More than five months have passed since he returned to the White House without stopping the war. He then stalled negotiations to stop the war on the Gaza Strip, and his country used its veto power, despite the deaths of thousands of innocent women, children, and the elderly. Then came his subsequent blatant aggression against Iranian nuclear facilities days after assisting Tel Aviv in its evil war. All of this only means that the entire world has come to know the ugly, vacillating, lying, and deceitful side of the US president. If the war continued, would you expect a World War? Russian President Vladimir Putin warned of this, and if the war had continued, it would have escalated into a full-scale war. I believe that what Trump did—issuing tariffs on countries around the world, most notably China, and providing weapons to Taiwan—is a violation of the One China principle. The US President's failure to resolve the Ukrainian war, and simultaneously, his fear that the BRICS economic bloc will become the largest global bloc and that it could cause a decline in the value of the dollar against national currencies, all confirm that Trump wants to incite wars globally – whether military or economic. Where do you see Russia and China's position if the war expands? Iran has friends who won't stand idly by. We saw Russian President Vladimir Putin call for mediation to stop the war, but Trump wasn't willing to do so. China knows what international tools it has at its disposal. But if the war expands, it's only natural that China, Russia, Pakistan, and North Korea would move to support Iran. The Iranian Parliament approved the closure of the Strait of Hormuz during wartime. Was it possible to implement this? Yes, the Iranian Parliament approved the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. This is our right to self-defense and punish aggressors. Therefore, I believe that Trump is second only to the Devil. We were on the verge of victory over Israel, so the US intervened to prevent Israel's declaration of defeat. Netanyahu was on the brink of collapse, and we expect the price of a barrel of oil to reach $400, in the event of the Strait of Hormuz being closed.
Al-Ahram Weekly
04-06-2025
- General
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Boiling point nears in Gaza - Egypt - Al-Ahram Weekly
The fast deterioration of the situation in Gaza is only one of many pressing issues that Cairo is currently bracing for. With the increasing level of bloodshed in Gaza, especially during aid distribution operations, Cairo this week intensified consultations both at the international and regional levels in a bid to avert what is feared to be a catastrophic humanitarian situation on its eastern border. Developments in Gaza were a top issue for presidential consultations this week. On Monday, President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi spoke with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, and the issue was also top on the agenda of Al-Sisi's talks with visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei said that Araghchi's visit to Cairo aimed to discuss bilateral relations and consult on the latest developments in the region, especially in occupied Palestine, as well as international developments. Head of the Iranian Interests Section in Egypt Mohammad Hossein Soltanifard explained that Araghchi's visit was a continuation of the regional tours he has been making in recent weeks, including to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE. According to a statement issued by the State Information Service (SIS), Araghchi's talks in Cairo also covered the situation in the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait, where the Houthis are still launching attacks from Yemen on vessels heading to and from Israel. Iran is a close ally of Hamas, and both Cairo and Doha, key mediators in the Gaza ceasefire, have been demanding that Tehran encourage Hamas to be pragmatic in its approach to the ceasefire parameters. In a joint statement issued earlier in the week, Egypt and Qatar said they would be working hard to help facilitate the ceasefire deal put forward by US Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff. Hamas has demanded amendments to the deal, especially US guarantees of the Israeli commitment to honour the ceasefire for the duration agreed upon. A source close to the Hamas negotiating team said that the Islamic resistance movement had not closed the door on the ceasefire deal despite 'a very unfair draft'. However, he added that there was little reason to expect that Witkoff would accommodate the amendments that Hamas has requested. According to informed government sources this week, the issue has gone beyond whether there will be a ceasefire and whether it will be long or short. The situation, the sources said, is now one of 'waiting for disaster'. 'We could have a ceasefire, but this does not mean that we are set to see an end to this [Israeli] war [on Gaza] anytime soon. In fact, it is the assessment, at least here, that the worst phase is yet to come,' one source said. He explained that with the 'way things are unfolding on the ground with the Israeli military operation,' it seems that Israel is pushing as many Gazans as possible next to the border with Egypt, which is keeping a close watch on the situation and is escalating its state of 'readiness' in anticipation of the worst. For this and other informed sources who have spoken since the beginning of the Israeli genocidal war on Gaza on 7 October 2023, the Israeli scheme to displace the Palestinians out of Gaza is unchanged. Egypt, the same sources have been saying, will not settle for any forced entry of Palestinian civilians into its territory. Egypt has put this message across to several capitals concerned both within and outside the region regarding its opposition to any such imposed scenarios. Sources close to Hamas say they will do everything possible to avert a displacement scenario and will refuse all attempts to force the surviving leaders of Hamas out of Gaza. However, according to a source who has been involved in the humanitarian relief in Gaza, this will be 'easier said than done', especially with the level of escalation that Israel has been opting for. On Sunday, the international NGO Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said that Israel is using a widely criticised humanitarian aid scheme for Gaza to push its ethnic-cleansing agenda. The food distribution plan by the highly controversial Gaza Humanitarian Fund has been chaotic and deadly for Palestinians who have been shot dead by the Israeli military in Gaza. UN agencies and major aid organisations declined to take part in the system, stating that it violates humanitarian principles by allowing Israel, the occupying power, to control who receives aid and forcing people to relocate to designated distribution sites, further risking mass displacement across the territory. 'The claim that this unprincipled, failing mechanism is necessary to prevent the diversion of aid is false,' MSF stated on its website. 'This initiative seems to be a cynical ploy to feign compliance with international humanitarian law,' the group said. 'In practice, it uses aid as a tool to forcibly displace people as part of what appears to be a broader strategy to ethnically-cleanse the Gaza Strip and to justify the continuation of a war waged without limits.' An Egyptian diplomat who spoke this week said that Israel's decision to block a visit by a delegation of Arab foreign ministers to the West Bank, where Israel has also been escalating its operations against the Palestinians, is a clear indication of where it is heading. Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty criticised the Israeli decision to deny the Arab ministerial delegation to the West Bank access to the area. He said that Israel's behaviour demonstrated its stubbornness in dealing with Arab and international efforts to de-escalate the situation and find a solution. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin 'Netanyahu is under no pressure to change course, not from inside Israel, not from the US or Europe, and certainly not from anyone else,' he said, adding that the 'boiling point' could be just around the corner. Meanwhile, sources say that Egypt's worry over its eastern border is not the only one. They argue that Egyptian security bodies are also keeping a close watch on the situation on the southern and western borders with Sudan and Libya. Egypt, a source said, is keen to enhance the chances of stability in Sudan, which have allowed for the voluntary return of a good number of Sudanese who had come to Egypt on the eruption of the war between the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces. Meanwhile, Egypt hosted a three-way meeting on Libya this week where Abdelatty consulted with his counterparts from Algeria, Ahmed Attaf, and Tunisia, Mahmoud Al-Nafti, on possible ideas to endorse stability in Libya. An informed source said that the concern that Egypt has was not just about recent signs of a possible re-eruption of violence in the west of Libya but also about the signs of 'incidents' in the east of the country right on the border with Egypt that reveal possible security issues. * A version of this article appears in print in the 5 June, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
