Mixed reaction to Iranian President Ahmadinejad’s Cairo visit

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (C) waves to the crowd after visiting al-Hussein mosque in Cairo There has been a mixed reaction in Egypt's political circle following Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's historic visit to Cairo. Several observers have praised the government for inviting Ahmadinejad, citing potential economic, regional, and strategic cooperation, while others have expressed fears that the trip could increase Shiite influence in Egypt, threatening relations between the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafists.
Leading member of the Muslim Brotherhood Badr Mohamed Badran described the visit of the Iranian official as a "national necessity" to pave the way for achieving strategic, regional and economic cooperation that would benefit the Arab region as whole. He told Arabstoday that Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi discussed a number of issues with his Iranian counterpart, hoping to restore Egypt's key role across the region.
He said cooperation between Egypt and Iran will not only put pressure on Israeli occupation forces, but also help the Palestinians arrange their internal affairs and improve living conditions. He added that the relations between the two countries would witness notable progress during the coming period, denying that there are fears of Egyptian-Iranian rapprochement.
Discussing Egypt's stance on Syria, Badran said he wants a peaceful solution, without and military interference from Arab or foreign countries. He added that Egypt strongly condemns the bloodshed in Syria and wants all parties to unite and overcome the current crisis. He revealed that that both Egypt and Iran would work to bridge the gap between the Islamic elements in the near future.
Meanwhile, Egyptian Salafist leader Mustafa Zahran told Arabstoday that President Morsi is not interested in improving relations with Iran because he will lose support of Salafist groups. Zahran said that Morsi promised Salafist groups that he will not cooperate with Iran, adding that they refuse to improve their relations with Iran due to doctrinal conflicts. Zahran said that Ahmadinejad's visit would not affect the relations between Salafists and the Muslim Brotherhood, adding that both parties realise they need one another to stay in power. He stressed that the Egyptian President was using Iran to pressure Israel and the US.
Egyptian political expert Mohamed Ghoneim welcomed the Iranian delegation's visit, adding that it would pave the way for turning a new page in the relations between two of the most important countries in the Middle East. He added that the relations between Iran and Egypt could end any internal seditions Islamic countries, stressing that they would help resolve the current Syrian crisis through dialogue, not wars. Ghoneim said that Israeli occupation has already expressed its anxiety over Egypt-Iran relations, because it knows that both countries would support the Palestinian cause. He added that cooperation would also help the Egyptian economy aS Iranians have expressed their desire to invest in Egypt.