Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit expressed on Monday his hope that the United States succeeds in making a change in Iran's behavior in the Middle East, considering the Iranian attitude is negative in many aspects and doesn't help realize security, stability and peace in the region, Xinhua reported.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hosam Zaki said in a statement issued on Monday after Abul Gheit's meeting with special advisor to U.S. Secretary of State for South Asia and Gulf affairs, Denis Ross, that Abul Gheit and Ross discussed the U.S. new approach aiming at positive engagement with Iran in order to achieve a change in its behavior regarding the nuclear issue and generally in the region.
Abul Gheit expressed his hope that the U.S. new approach could succeed in making the needed changes regarding Iran, according to Zaki.
The spokesman said that Abul Gheit explained that dealing successfully with Iran's nuclear issue should take into account that Iran has rights recognized in the nuclear non-proliferation pact.
The minister said that Israel's insistence not to join the nuclear non-proliferation pact is a real danger on security and peace and serves the unacceptable double standards.
Iran's nuclear issue is more than a simple non-proliferation issue, but involves deep-seated conflicts between Washington and Tehran.
However, U.S. President Barack Obama tendered "olive branch" to Iran right after his inauguration. On March 20, the Iranian New Year, Obama said in a videotaped speech that his administration was committed to addressing issues between the two countries and pursuing "constructive ties."
Meanwhile, Israeli President Shimon Peres slammed Iran on Monday, saying that Iran's nuclear program is a threat to the United States, Europe and Arab nations in addition to Israel.
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