Egypt protests point to new Islamic Middle East, says Ahmadinejad

Addressing Egyptians in Arabic after the Friday prayer sermon in Tehran, he said the protests in Cairo show the "explosion of sacred anger" against Hosni Mubarak whom he described as a "traitor dictator" guilty of "betrayal" to his countrymen by joining hands with Israel and delivering a severe blow to the Arab unity in the region.

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“Do not believe in the game which is being played by the West and America; don’t believe in their role, don’t believe in their political maneuvers which are taking place in the midst of your awakening,” Khamenei said, reports Reuters, in his typical advisory remarks aimed at Egyptians.

The religious head of Iran also sought to single out the United States for its volte face in its policy towards Cairo. “Just a few days ago … the Americans were supporting the corrupt regime, and now after they are sick of preserving him, they are speaking about the rights of the people,” he said and added that the replacement of the current regime is nothing but "replacing one spy with another".

His remarks reiterate Iran's stand on Egyptian protests stated early this this month by its foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast. He was hopeful that the protests in Egypt would pave the way for an "Islamic Middle East" bereft of Israel and the United States. Essentially, Iran wants to project similarities between Cairo protests and its 1979 Islamic Revolution that replaced the US-backed Shah regime.

The region is assuming a "new shape" and with the developments, "we would be able to see a Middle East that is Islamic and powerful and also that withstands the Zionist occupiers," he told a news conference, referring to Israel, oblivious to the fact that Tehran too witnessed similar protests over unfair elections in 2009.

Iran, which is facing increasing isolation from the West over its nuclear program, has been aggressive in befriending Arab nations in the region, especially those bordering Israel. While majority of Arab nations are Sunnis, Iran has a majority of Shi'ite Muslims, whom the Sunnis traditionally see as adversaries.

However, in post-Mubarak Egypt, Iran hopes the Muslim Brotherhood which has close ties with Palestine Hamas would come to power and pave the way for a realignment of Arab countries in the region and help isolate Israel in the Middle East. Iran is the only country with no diplomatic ties with Egypt in the region.