Iran will not resume relations with the United Arab Republic as long as President Nasser is in power there, the Iranian Foreign Minister, Abaws Aram, declared yesterday, according to reports received here.
In announcing at a press conference that the UAR ambassador had been asked to leave within 48 hours, the Iranian Foreign Minister said Nasser’s speech attacking the Shah of Iran for recognizing Israel had come from the “lunatic mind of an unworthy head of state of a friendly Moslem country.” Iran is a Moslem state but not an Arab one.
He then added that Iran would not seek restoration of diplomatic ties with the UAR as long as the present “illegal” regime was in power. The Iranian official charged that Nasser was seeking “to sow dissension among Moslems” and had an “ill-balanced mind” which “cherishes the dream of Moslem leadership.”
It was reported from Cairo that the Secretariat of the Arab League had decided, because of Iran’s recognition of Israel, to withdraw an invitation to Iran to attend an Arab Petroleum Conference scheduled for Oct. 17 in Beirut.
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