Spokesman for Egypt’s new president says Fars story quoting Morsi as calling for closer ties to Tehran was made up

Iran’s state news agency fabricated an interview with Egyptian President-elect Mohammed Morsi, in which Morsi was quoted as calling for closer ties between his country and the Islamic Republic, Morsi’s spokesman said Monday night.

In the Fars article, Morsi was quoted as saying that “creating a strategic balance in the region” based on strong ties between Cairo and Tehran was a top priority for him. Ties between the two countries have been strained for more than 30 years.

The article also quoted Morsi as saying he would “reconsider” the 1979 Camp David accords establishing peace with Israel.

Egypt’s Al-Ahram, citing the official MENA news agency, quoted Morsi’s spokesman as saying that Morsi had not granted an interview to Fars and that everything printed in the article was “without foundation.” (© 2012 THE TIMES OF ISRAEL 06/26/12)