The conflict over Iran's nuclear file may have brought Ali Larijani, Tehran's chief nuclear negotiator, to Cairo, but there are few signs that his visit will break the 27-year-old diplomatic freeze between the two countries, writes Amira Howeidy It may have been unexpected, and the first of its kind for three decades, yet the visit of Ali Larijani, Tehran's chief nuclear negotiator and head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, to Cairo on 10 and 11 June was surprisingly low key. Following an hour and a half long meeting with President Hosni Mubarak the Iranian official kept mum while the presidential spokesman explained only that they had discussed "bilateral" ties, developments in Iran's nuclear file and the Iraqi and Palestinian tracks. Later, at a joint press conference with Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa, Egyptians finally got a chance to see and hear Larijani, the highest ranking Iranian official to visit Egypt since Tehran cut diplomatic ties after Cairo signed a peace agreement with Israel in 1979 and provided asylum for the deposed Iranian Shah Mohamed Reza Pahlavi. Relations further deteriorated when Egypt backed Iraq during the 1980-1988 Gulf War. There were no signs that the visit -- an initiative on Tehran's side according to the Iranian Embassy in Cairo -- had mended any of these fences. Asked if his presence in Cairo would lead to improved Egyptian-Iranian relations, Larijani offered a diplomatic reply. "My being here is proof of our respect for Egypt's role and this respect is mutual," he said. While avoiding any mention of his meeting with Mubarak, Larijani praised the "conscious and strong Egyptian people". "We hope," he added, "that these issues [stalled relations] are solved in due time." Larijani's surprise appearance in Cairo came less than a week after European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana handed Iran a new package of "incentives" approved by the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council -- China, Russia, Britain, France and the United States, plus Germany -- in exchange for Tehran's suspension of uranium enrichment activities. On Sunday Larijani offered assurances to Arab governments, insisting Iran's nuclear activities constitute no threat to Arab and Islamic countries and that its nuclear programme is exclusively civilian. "The strategy of the Islamic Republic of Iran is to always side with Arab and Islamic countries," he added. After three years of inspections, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) failed to prove that Iran's nuclear activity is -- the US claims -- designed for nuclear weapons. Following his meetings at the Arab League Larijani held a press conference of his own at a Cairo hotel, where he sought to "clarify" to the media "floating misconceptions" regarding the incentive package presented to Iran. He denied that Iran was given a time limit to respond, or that the package contained preconditions. "We wouldn't accept negotiations with prerequisites. We do not negotiate under pressure. There was no mention of sanctions either, otherwise we wouldn't have agreed to talk." The package, explained Larijani, contains proposals that envision a "solution for both sides and that will serve the interests of both". He added that the proposals, which have yet to be made public, contained "some positive and some weak, ambiguous points". On the positive side, said Larijani, are guarantees to provide Iran with nuclear facilities and "consult with Tehran over security arrangements in the region". The ambiguities tended to focus on uranium enrichment, "a matter we need to have clarified". But Larijani's most significant statements during his Cairo visit, say commentators, concern the right of Islamic countries to develop nuclear programmes. "Islamic countries," he argued, "have every right to nuclear energy, as guaranteed by the Nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty. It is a right that should be used." He also said that Iran is "prepared to cooperate" with any Islamic country in this respect. Gamil Matar, political analyst and director of the Arab Centre for Futuristic Studies, interprets Larijani's words as an invitation "to Arab and Islamic countries to follow in Iran's path". And in issuing the invitation, believes Matar, Larijani "turned the tables around... After all, who can say no to peaceful nuclear energy?" While Iranian diplomacy, argues Matar, himself a former diplomat, "seems to address governments and their publics simultaneously, when Larijani urges Arabs and Muslims to follow suit he is actually addressing the people and what he says appeals to them. He knows that Arab governments will not pursue nuclear energy programmes." He has nothing but admiration for Tehran's recent diplomatic conduct. "They have managed the nuclear crisis brilliantly over the past six months... Iran forced a super power like the US to backtrack on its threats against Tehran." But what does Tehran want from Cairo? "This," Matar believes, "is another example of Iranian genius. They have risen above all traditional sensitivities [between Egypt and Iran] and are working on all tracks, and with anyone, to advance their case. They are behaving like a major regional power." Larijani left for Algiers following his Cairo trip. Meanwhile, on Monday, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister arrived in Tehran to discuss the US- European package with his Iranian counterpart. Egypt has called for a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear crisis while stressing that the international community should also address the issue of Israel's nuclear arsenal.
