Iran, Egypt edge closer to restoring ties after 25 yrs

8216;8216;The two countries have decided to restore ties8230;and right now they are making the preparations,8217;8217; Iranian Vice-President Mohammad Ali Abtahi said.

In Cairo, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher insisted it was too soon to speak of a decision on normalising ties. 8216;8216;When a decision is taken, it will be announced. There is no official announcement from anywhere,8217;8217; he said.

The two countries have been edging closer in recent years and Iranian President Mohammad Khatami and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak met on the sidelines of a conference in Geneva last month 8212; the first such meeting for more than two decades. Some analysts said an agreement could pave the way for Iran to hand over captured Al Qaeda members 8212; a key US demand. Among those Tehran is believed to be holding is Egyptian Saif Al-Adel, Al Qaeda8217;s suspected operations chief.

The ground for restoring ties was paved by Tehran City Council which on Tuesday agreed to rename a street which commemorated Khaled Islambouli, an Islamic radical who opposed the Camp David deal and killed Sadat in 1981. The street8217;s name was changed to Intifada Street, after the Palestinian uprising, at the request of Iran8217;s Foreign Ministry. Cairo had demanded Iran rename the street before it would contemplate restoring ties. 8212; Reuters