CAIRO (AFP) – The foreign ministry summoned an Iranian official on Tuesday after Tehran criticized Egypt’s claim that it had arrested members of Lebanon’s Hezbollah for allegedly planning attacks in the country.

Foreign ministry official Mohammed el-Zarqani summoned Mohammed Rajabi, the head of Iran’s special interests office in Egypt, to express key U.S. ally Cairo’s “absolute rejection” of the criticism, a statement said.
Strained ties between regional heavyweights Egypt and Iran, which severed diplomatic relations almost 30 years ago, have deteriorated further since Egypt accused a Hezbollah cell earlier this month of plotting attacks in the country.
Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit has claimed that Tehran is using the Shiite group Hezbollah to gain a foothold in the most populous Arab country, saying that Iran wished to make Egypt its “maid of honour.”
Iranian officials have said Egypt’s claims of attacks inside the country was spurious and an attempt to influence upcoming Lebanese parliamentary elections.