Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has arrived in Cairo to attend the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation summit, marking the first visit by an Iranian leader to Egypt in more than a decade.
President Pezeshkian underscored the importance of economic collaboration and support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) prior to his departure to the Egyptian capital.
“This summit is vital for fostering closer political, economic, cultural, and social ties among Islamic countries,” Pezeshkian said . “The more we deepen, strengthen, and operationalize our relations with Islamic nations, the better equipped we are to counter the plots against our nation and others in the region.”
The D-8 summit, which brings together Iran, Türkiye, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Egypt, and Nigeria, focuses on enhancing youth capacity and empowering SMEs—a key driver of economic growth in the member states.
Pezeshkian emphasized the potential of SMEs as engines of innovation and job creation, advocating for a united approach among Islamic countries to foster sustainable development. “Supporting SMEs is not just an economic initiative but a way to strengthen the resilience of our economies and improve the quality of life for our people,” he said.
This visit comes as Iran and Egypt signal a potential thaw in their historically strained relations. Pezeshkian highlighted a productive meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi during the BRICS summit in Russia earlier this year, noting that such dialogues pave the way for deeper bilateral cooperation.
In addition to economic discussions, Pezeshkian addressed regional political issues, including the crises in Gaza, Palestine, and Lebanon. He called for collective action from Islamic countries to combat oppression and violence. “Through active and coordinated diplomacy, we aim to defend the rights of the oppressed and counter the crimes committed by the US-backed Zionist regime,” he said.
The trip also holds symbolic significance, as it marks a historic moment in Iranian-Egyptian relations. Pezeshkian is the first Iranian president to visit Egypt since Mahmoud Ahmadinejad attended an Organization of Islamic Cooperation summit in 2013. The two nations have experienced strained ties for decades but have increased diplomatic engagement in recent months, particularly following Iran's rapprochement with Saudi Arabia earlier this year.
Observers believe the summit offers an opportunity for Tehran and Cairo to explore areas of mutual interest, with the potential for advancing economic ties between the two nations.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who accompanied Pezeshkian, is expected to engage in bilateral talks with counterparts from other D-8 member countries, focusing on economic cooperation and regional stability.
The D-8 summit, established in 1997, seeks to promote economic cooperation among member states. This year’s meeting in Cairo could prove pivotal in fostering stronger economic alliances and setting the stage for broader collaboration between Iran and Egypt.