In an interview with the semi-official Iranian news outlet Fars, Egypt’s new President Mohammed Morsi spoke of his intention to “revise the Camp David treaty” and “restore normal relations with Iran.”
“Our policy towards Israel will be a policy based on equality since we are not weaker than them in any field and we will discuss the issue of the Palestinians’ rights with the related sides since this is highly important,” Morsi said.
“We will revise the Camp David treaty,” he continued, and insisted that such matters would be implemented with the consensus of the various government organs. This statement seems to contrasts with comments he made only hours later in his televised victory speech, where he offered a vague assurance that he would “preserve international accords and obligations.”
The interview, which took place a few hours before the official announcement of his victory, was published on Monday.
Turning to the region, Morsi said he sought to establish relations “with all countries of the region to revive Egypt’s identity in the region through economic cooperation among the Arab countries…and beside that, supporting the Palestinian nation in its legitimate campaign for materializing its rights.”
Morsi added that “[w]e must restore normal relations with Iran based on shared interests, and expand areas of political coordination and economic cooperation because this will create a balance of pressure in the region.” He also quashed rumors that he planned on visiting Saudi Arabia – Iran’s nemesis in the Gulf region – for his inaugural foreign trip.
Morsi’s comments will likely stoke Western fears that an Islamist-led Egypt may further destabilize a region already in turmoil, and impede continuing attempts to isolate Iran over its nuclear program.