Region | Egypt
Iranian diplomat invited to Obama address in Cairo
An Iranian diplomat said the Egyptian hosts of US President Barack Obama's upcoming speech have invited Iran's top diplomat in Cairo to attend.
- Agencies
- Published: 18:09 June 3, 2009
Cairo: An Iranian diplomat said the Egyptian hosts of US President Barack Obama's upcoming speech have invited Iran's top diplomat in Cairo to attend.
Including the Iranian in the list of guests to Obama's speech is significant as Tehran and Washington do not have diplomatic ties, and officials from both countries usually avoid direct encounters.
The Iranians, however, would not say Wednesday whether they would be attending Obama's address on Thursday.
"A decision to attend is currently being made by the Foreign Ministry in Tehran," said Aboul Qassim Zakeri, an Iranian official in Cairo.
If Hussain Rajabi, the top Iranian diplomat in Egypt, attends, it will be the first time Obama has addressed a gathering in the presence of Iranian officials.
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