This visit comes at a time when Iran is increasing diplomatic consultations to try to ease regional tensions, following strikes against Israel on October 1, which now raise fears of reprisals.
The last visit by an Iranian foreign minister to Egypt was in January 2013 when Ali Akbar Salehi traveled to Cairo.
Iran is increasing its diplomatic initiatives. Before heading to Cairo, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was in Jordan on Wednesday as part of a regional tour.
On October 1, Iran launched 200 missiles at Israel, including hypersonic missiles for the first time. Tehran presented these strikes as retaliation for the assassination of Palestinian Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in July in the Iranian capital, which it attributed to Israel. Iran also claims it acted in response to the death of an Iranian general in a strike in Lebanon, as well as Hassan Nasrallah, who has led Hezbollah for over 30 years and is financially and militarily supported by Iran.
Israel has vowed to make Iran pay for its attack.
The Iranian Foreign Minister is intensifying diplomatic initiatives.
He has successively visited Lebanon, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, and Oman, which usually serves as an intermediary for indirect talks with the United States.
On Tuesday evening, Abbas Araghchi spoke with his French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot and the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, according to Tehran.
After Egypt, he will then head to Turkey, his ministry announced.
This article is originally published on rfi.fr
