Egypt, Iran Make First Contact in Years

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has telephoned Iranian President Mohammad Khatami in what presidential sources said was the first such top-level contact in 21 years of strained relations between the two nations. State television said Mubarak called to congratulate Khatami after the Group of 15, an affiliation of developing countries, accepted Iran’s application for membership. Iranian newspapers also reported the conversation. The group agreed at a summit in Cairo this week to accept Iran and Colombia as members. Iran broke off diplomatic ties with Cairo after Egyptian President Anwar Sadat’s 1979 peace treaty with Israel.