[Iran Press TV Latest] Egypt has summoned Iran's top diplomat in Cairo to protest what it called Tehran's interference in the country's internal affairs. The head of the Iranian interest's office in Cairo, Seyyed Hossein Rajabi, was summoned over comments made by Iranian officials during Egypt's campaign against alleged Hezbollah agents in the North African country. Egyptian security forces arrested 49 people in early April for allegedly planning attacks on tourist areas during Israel's Christmas aggression on the Gaza Strip. Cairo claims that the group was recruited by Hezbollah.
Hezbollah Secretary General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah instantly dismissed the accusations as out of hand.
Iranian Parliament (Majlis) Speaker Ali Larijani branded the arrests as an "outdated game plan" aimed at impinging upon Lebanon's upcoming parliamentary elections. "[Egypt] intends to divert international attention from the plight of Palestinians in the wake of Tel Aviv's three-week war on Gaza," Larijani said.
Egypt's allegation against Hezbollah also drew criticism from the Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki who called it a 'frayed accusation' aimed at targeting Lebanon's election.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday said Cairo "cannot under any circumstances, accept such statements and hostile stances."
"These statements are a blatant interference in internal Egyptian affairs, and the government and people of Egypt reject entirely such interference in matters which do not concern Iran," an Egyptian Foreign Ministry statement read.
Hezbollah and Egypt entered into bitter conflict after the Lebanese movement on several occasions lashed out at Cairo for refusing to open the Rafah border crossing, the only route from which the impoverished Gaza Strip could receive aid.
Egypt has kept the crossing closed despite international concern that the situation in Gaza would further deteriorate due to the deprivation of its residents from their basic needs.