Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived in Cairo on Feb. 5 for the first summit between the two countries since 1979.

Officials said Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi would host Ahmadinejad during a two-day visit meant to focus on restoring full relations and launching cooperation.

“This visit has been planned for a long time but became a reality when
Morsi was elected president,” a Western diplomat said.

The arrival of Ahmadinejad comes less than two days after Egypt received the first of 20 advanced F-16 multi-role fighters from the United States. U.S. ambassador to Egypt Anne Patterson said the four F-16 Block 52 aircraft, approved over objections in Congress, marked Washington’s recognition of Egypt as an “indispensable partner.”

Officials said Egypt and Iran would discuss a range of Middle East
issues, particularly the Sunni revolt in Syria. Morsi, a former leader of
the Muslim Brotherhood, has announced his support for the Sunni revolt but condemned an Israeli air strike on a suspected Syrian chemical weapons facility near Damascus on Jan. 30.

The Ahmadinejad visit comes amid nationwide protests against Morsi, who visited Teheran in August 2012. Sunnis warned that they would protest the Iranian president amid Teheran’s
alliance with the regime of President Bashar Assad.

“The Iranian regime is involved in the massacres in Syria and constantly
tries to spread Shiasm in Egypt,” the Muslim Coalition for Defense of the
Prophet’s Family and Companions said.

  Anne Patterson, First Iran-Egypt summit since ’79 aims to restore normal ties, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Mohammed Morsi, Muslim Brotherhood