Rivalry Between Egypt, Iran Spreads Beyond the Mideast

"... , Cairo is trying to wrestle back its regional authority, with its main bargaining chip being its role as a broker in the intra-Palestinian peace process -- a role that Iran covets.

The role, which Egypt has been anxious to maintain, affords Mubarak and Egypt a number of advantages: It enhances Egypt's image and strengthens the government prior to the September 2011 elections. A negotiated settlement would also secure Egypt's border with Gaza, which was used as an entry point into Egyptian territory by Iranian-funded....

A role in negotiating a settlement to the intra-Palestinian conflict -- as well as the broader Palestinian-Israeli conflict -- would also bring Egypt further regional and international legitimacy and credibility, which both Iran and Egypt see as pivotal to securing regional supremacy. As a result, the Palestinian question has become one of the key spheres of rivalry between the two states.

It appears that this rivalry now extends beyond the Middle East. In addition to establishing influence in countries to the east of Egypt -- namely Lebanon, Syria, Turkey and Iraq -- to form a barrier between Cairo and Tehran, Iran has also begun to focus attention on building ties with African nations......

Egypt is watching Iran's diplomatic and commercial progress in Africa closely, and any significant Iranian success in the Nile-basin states is likely to provoke a reaction. The Egyptian government transferred responsibility for Nile water security from the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry for Irrigation to the National Security Authority after Rwanda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Uganda signed the Nile Cooperation Agreement on May 14. These upstream states are calling for renegotiation of Nile water rights that currently favor Egypt. The Nile supplies almost all of Egypt's fresh water, and Cairo vigorously opposes any attempts to reduce its share.

At present, Sudan has supported Egypt's position, ......since Cairo's relations with the Southern leadership have historically not been strong, Iran could conceivably use its newfound influence there to exploit the water issue as leverage over Egypt....

Domestically, Egypt is already feeling the strain of the uncertainties surrounding the impending transition of presidential power. Iran's foreign policy agenda adds a further complication that Egypt has clearly decided to confront now."