Iran aims to improve image in the Arab world

Senior Iranian leaders have been using the cover of the battle over its nuclear program to reach out to their many foes in the Middle East.

The foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, visited Lebanon earlier this week , and relations with Turkey have been improved. More dramatically the parliamentary speaker, Ali Larijani, met President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt in Cairo this week.

Egypt and Iran have had no diplomatic relations since 1980, after Egypt struck a peace deal with Israel, and Egypt accuses Iran of funding terrorist activity by Hezbollah on its soil.

According to Lebanese observers Mottaki’s visit to Lebanon was aimed at trying to convince Lebanese officials against voting for the new sanctions that are expected to be imposed by the western countries . Lebanon was elected recently as a non- permanent member of the UN security council

Source: telegraph.co.uk