Cairo should form alliance with Tehran: Egyptian presidential hopeful

TEHRAN, May 7(MNA) – A candidate for the 2012 Egyptian presidential election said that an alliance between Iran and Egypt should be established to safeguard the sovereignty of Muslim countries against Western threats. Hamdeen Sabahi is the leader of the Dignity Party (Egypt) and one of the leaders of the Egyptian opposition before the 2011 Egyptian revolution. Sabahi intends to run as an independent and not as the Dignity Party’s candidate. Sabahi spoke of his views on several issues including ties between Tehran and Cairo. He said that his policy would aim to form a joint alliance with Iran and Turkey because relations between Iran and Egypt have been poor for the past thirty years “without any clear reason.” He held the White House responsible for the strained relations between the two countries and said, “We are all victims of the U.S. plots because cutting of our ties with other countries serves U.S. interests and is to the detriment of both the Iranian and Egyptian nations.” In reply to a question about the Camp David Accords, he said, “If I had the power, I would tear the treaty apart. I would never recognize the Zionist regime,” adding that his country is committed to its international agreements and any modification or cancellation of the agreements should be put to referendum.