Egypts tourism relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran has been suspended over national security reasons, Egyptian Tourism Minister Hisham Zazou says.
The suspension of tourism with Iran is related to national security," the Egyptian state television quoted Zazou as saying on Tuesday.
"At the moment, the security situation does not allow the ministry to support travel with Iran, including flights and tourist visits," Egyptian Tourism Ministry spokeswoman Rasha Azaizi also said later on Tuesday.
Direct air travel between Iran and Egypt had come to a halt after the two countries severed bilateral relations following Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution. Tehran and Cairo, however, moved to improve ties under the presidency of ousted Egyptian president, Mohamed Morsi.
The first commercial flight from Egypt to Iran in more than three decades took off from the Cairo airport for the Iranian capital city, Tehran, in March.
The two countries had signed a memorandum of understanding earlier in March to boost cooperation in the tourism sector.
In February, Egypt's Tourism Minister Hisham Zaazou signed an agreement on operating non-stop flights between the two countries during a visit to Iran.
Following Morsis ouster in July, however, Egypt stopped flights from Tehran to re-evaluate our tourism programs with Iran.
On July 3, the Egyptian Army removed Morsi from power, suspended the constitution and dissolved the parliament. It also appointed the head of the Supreme Constitutional Court, Adly Mahmoud Mansour, as the new interim president.
The government of Mansour has launched a bloody crackdown on Morsi supporters and arrested more than 2,000 Brotherhood members, including the partys leader, Mohamed Badie, who was detained on August 20.
About 1,000 people were killed in a week of violence between Morsi supporters and security forces after police dispersed their protest camps in a deadly operation on August 14.
By Press TV
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