The Paradox of Divergence‐Convergence in Iran‐Egypt Foreign Relations after Islamic Revolution (1979‐2014)

Located in the cross‐section of Asia, Europe and Africa, Egypt, with its history and capacity in leading the Arab world, is of the most important countries in the Middle East, with which all regional and ultra‐regional powers need to have political interaction. However, Iran‐Egypt ties in the past thirty years, i.e., after the Iranian Islamic Revolution, were severed. Irrespective of Islamic Republic of Iran’s political perspective on the region and the international world, various factors have caused the Iran‐Egypt ties to face tensions and opposition and the relations between these two regional powers to face challenges, despite divergent and convergent ups and downs in recent years. Hence, the present paper aims at answering the question of influential factors in the divergence of Ian‐Egypt ties after Iran’s Islamic Revolution. In this regard, although it seems that the divergence in the relations between Iran and Egypt has been affected by interpretations and differing policies of political ruling systems in both countries on the regional and international issues and Egyptian officials’ concerns about the effect of Islamic Revolution on the Egypt’s domestic affairs as well, the role the US and Israel has been of the most important factor in the tensions and conflict in their relations in recent years. However, differing viewpoints and discursive behaviors of the political systems reigning over both countries, influenced by the principles of value, norms and identity of the political systems of both Iran and Egypt, are the most important factors in the divergence of the two countries and important barriers to their convergence.