In the wake of the violent bomb attack on an Egyptian church in the city of Alexandria, Iran has sent a message of sympathy to the families of the victims, PressTV reported.
"The Iranian government and nation sympathizes with the families of the victims and the injured of the Alexandria explosion," said head of Iran's Interest Section in Egypt in a meeting with Egyptian Mufti Ali Jumaa in Cairo on Monday.
"The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman also deplored the recent terrorist incident, which claimed the lives of many innocent people," IRNA quoted Mojtaba Amani as saying.
Jumaa, for his part, said nothing could make the Egyptian people disunited and this country has always been the symbol of peaceful coexistence of various religious disciples.
"The Egyptian nation, including various groups and parties condemned the Alexandria church explosion and sympathized with the Coptic [Christians]," the Egyptian Mufti added.
The deadly blast brought hundreds of angry Coptic Christians to the streets in the Egyption capital and accused authorities of not doing enough to protect the minority group that accounts for about 10 percent of Egypt's population of 80 million.
Egyptian police say they have detained 17 people in connection with the attack.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Saturday blamed "foreign hands" for the deadly attack, promising to stand up to terrorists and urging unity between Muslims and Christians.
Earlier, Pope Benedict XVI had called on nations around the world to defend Christians.
Pope's remarks were severely criticized by Ahmed al-Tayeb as an "unacceptable interference in Egypt's internal affairs."