Khaled Al-Islambouli is the main suspect in the assassination of Anwar Sadat.
In a move set to significantly impact bilateral relations, Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has welcomed Iran's decision to rename Khaled al-Islambouli Street in Tehran. This street previously bore the name of the Egyptian officer implicated in the assassination of former President Anwar Sadat.
Abdelatty described the initiative as a positive step,
affirming that it removes one of the major obstacles hindering the improvement
of relations between Cairo and Tehran.
Acknowledging Positive Shifts in Bilateral Ties
The Egyptian Foreign Minister underscored that
"relations between Egypt and Iran are witnessing positive movements at
both bilateral and regional levels."
"We welcome Iran's renaming of the street of President
Sadat's assassin," Abdelatty stated, adding, "We hope that the
accumulated momentum in the relationship's trajectory will lead to the full
restoration of diplomatic relations." He further explained that Egypt is
establishing a sub-ministerial consultation mechanism with Iran, which
includes discussions on opening up commercial, economic, and tourism sectors.
The Symbolic Significance of the Street Name
Egyptian-Iranian relations have seen increasing momentum
recently. Notably, Iran's Foreign Minister visited Cairo multiple times,
holding meetings with high-level Egyptian officials, including President Abdel
Fattah el-Sisi.
In mid-June, Iranian authorities officially decided to change the name of "Khaled al-Islambouli" Street in the capital, Tehran, to "Hassan Nasrallah." This change was enacted by the Tehran City Council following coordination with the Iranian Foreign Ministry. The naming of a Tehran street after Khaled al-Islambouli, the primary accused in the 1981 assassination of the late Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, had long been cited as a significant impediment to the full restoration of Egyptian-Iranian relations.
