Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad Hosseini says the Egyptian governments ban on Irans al-Alam Arabic-language news channel harms Tehran-Cairo ties.
Hosseini also dismissed as unacceptable the July 20 attack on the office of al-Alam in Cairo by Egyptian security forces and the confiscation of its equipment.
We expect to see an end to such behaviors as quickly as possible. Egypt is a Muslim state and we are ready to broaden cooperation with this country in all sectors, the minister stated.
Egyptian forces arrested Ahmad al-Sioufi, who serves as the Cairo bureau chief for the station, on Saturday and refused to provide any explanation for their acts.
Egypt's military-led authorities have shut down several stations, including one operated by the Muslim Brotherhood, after former president, Mohamed Morsi, was toppled by the army.
On July 3, Egyptian security forces raided the offices of al-Jazeera Mubasher Misr news channel, and detained at least five of its staff.
Muslim Brotherhood-owned Egypt25 was also forced off the air and its managers were arrested shortly after General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Egypt's army chief, announced that Morsi and his government were no longer in office.
The authorities also shut down two other stations, al-Hafiz and al-Nas, after Morsi was overthrown.