Report: Iran seeking closer relations with Muslim Brotherhood

Changes in region have led the “resistance axis” to “rearrange the relationship between Iran and Hezbollah, and the Muslim Brotherhood."

By ARIEL BEN SOLOMON
Hassan Rouhani Iran flag in background 370 (photo credit: REUTERS/Raheb Homavandi)
Hassan Rouhani Iran flag in background 370
(photo credit: REUTERS/Raheb Homavandi)
Following the fall of Muslim Brotherhood president Mohamed Morsi from power in Egypt, Iran and Hezbollah are seeking closer relations with the Brotherhood, the Lebanese newspaper As-Safir reported.
Recent changes in the region including the restarting of Israel-Palestinian negotiations, the troubles related to the Syrian war and the international and Arab opposition to the Brotherhood in various Arab countries, have led the “resistance axis” to “rearrange the relationship between Iran and Hezbollah, and the Muslim Brotherhood.”
The Islamic Republic and the Lebanese terrorist organization both identify with the Shi’ite sect of Islam while the Brotherhood is a Sunni movement.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a meeting of the Iranian National Security Council, deemed what happened in Egypt as distressing and dangerous and that it would have negative repercussions on the Islamic reality. He said that no matter what mistakes the Brotherhood has made during its time of leadership in Egypt, it should not lead to the end of the Islamic revival in the region, referring to the Arab uprisings. Iran must support this revival and reengage, he said according to sources quoted in Tuesday’s report.
Iranian officials have already begun holding intensive meetings with prominent leaders in the international Brotherhood organization to deal with outstanding issues, though it also wants to keep channels open with the new Egyptian leadership.
In recent weeks, meetings were held between Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas in Beirut and Tehran in order to come to an agreement to strengthen political and military cooperation despite differences over the conflict in Syria.
These efforts are being made to outline a new strategy that will look for points of convergence between the parties of the resistance and newly elected President Hassan Rouhani will promote unity among the resistance forces and try to stop sectarian strife in the region.