Iran president congratulates Egypt's Morsi on election

25 June 2012, 23:51 (GMT+05:00)

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Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday congratulated newly elected Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi on democratic election, IRNA reported.

"I congratulate your Excellency on your election as president of the friendly and brotherly nation of Egypt. Emphasizing further expansion of bilateral relations and further consolidation of friendship between the two nations, I pray to God Almighty for prosperity and success of your Excellency and elevation of the Egyptian nation," President Ahmadinejad said in his message.

Declared winner on Sunday, Morsi has voiced interest in restoring long-severed ties with Tehran.

Since former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak was toppled by a popular uprising last year, both countries have signaled their interest in renewing ties which were severed more than 30 years ago.

Iran hailed Morsi's victory over former general Ahmed Shafik in Egypt's first free presidential election as a "splendid vision of democracy" that marked the country's "Islamic Awakening".