TEHRAN - If Egypt is seeking to regain its past glory, it should bolster its ties with the great nation of Iran, an Egyptian scholar said on Sunday.

In an interview with the Fars News Agency in Cairo, Egyptian Shia scholar Ahmad Rasem al-Nafis said, “If Egypt is seeking to regain the glory and greatness of its past, it must restore its relations with great and civilized nations like Iran.”
“I believe that Cairo must correct its past mistakes toward Tehran and start a new chapter in their mutual relations,” he added.
He went on to say that Hosni Mubarak made himself an instrument for implementing U.S. and Israeli policies in the region and blocked all efforts to establish close relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Commenting on the situation of the Shia minority after the January 25 revolution, al-Nafis said, “Egypt's Supreme Military Council has not indicated any negative or positive approach toward Shias, but generally speaking, all political and religious currents in Egypt must experience a better situation in the post-revolution era.”
Asked about the possibility of establishing a political party with the aim of defending the interests of Egyptian Shias, al-Nafis said, “We are following the slogan of freedom and justice and unity among Muslim countries, and therefore we regard ourselves as a part of the Egyptian people’s revolution.”
Commenting on the continuing protests in Egypt demanding the trial of former regime officials, he said, “There are still many figures of the former regime in the current administration who want to exercise their influence, especially in the intelligence and security agencies, so people must continue their weekly demonstrations to bring more pressure on the current system for the trial of former regime leaders.”