Egypt's President Morsi to visit China and Iran

Following his visit to China, Morsi will visit Iran 30 August to attend the Non Aligned Summit, making it  the first visit of an Egyptian president to Tehran for more than 30 years. Analysists will be looking for any changes in foreign policy directions for Egypt. Under Mubarak Iran was considered and enemy and Shia's were seen as a threat to the Sunni Arab world, especially Suadi Arabia and the Gulf. The  civil war in Syria may be changing perceptions and the Shia crescent as King Abdullah called it could be getting weaker.

There is no doubt that Iran is still seen as a threat by Israel and America and there is still speculation about an Israeli  strike against Iran's nuclear facitlities. President Morsi will perhaps seek a more independent policy from the dominance of the US under former president Mubarak. He will also be seeking to redefine Egypt's stance with Israel and Palestine.

When the peace treaty was signed between Israel and Egypt in 1979, Egypt was ostracised and lost its role as the leader of the Arab World. Now there is a chance that Egypt may win back some of that independence  and influence in  regional affairs in the Middle East . Mubarak won American financial and military support but in the end he lost influence and even the Americans did not support him in the final days.President Morsi may be able to strike out in a new direction  with Israel and he may even be able to help avert a war with Iran.

Egypt is not alone in the region in making overtures to Iran. Both Algeria and Tunsia have  also renewed their
relations with Iran recently.