ElBaradei, 68, also said he would not break relations with Israel. As a young Egyptian diplomat three decades ago, ElBaradei was part of the Egyptian team that negotiated the peace treaty with Israel.
Iran broke relations with Egypt in 1979 because it signed that peace treaty. Originally, Iran said it would not restore ties so long as the peace treaty existed. But for many years now, the Islamic Republic has not only dropped that demand but even been eager to see diplomatic relations restored.
At times, Iran has even seemed to prostrate itself before Cairo, it was so eager for relations. A few years ago, President Ahmadi-nejad said he was prepared to send an ambassador to Cairo “today” if Egypt would only agree to restore ties.
The common wisdom holds that ElBaradei, long the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), appeals to middle class and educated Egyptians but has little appeal to the masses.
He said his primary goal if elected would be to completely remodel Egypt‘s education system.
He indicated some displeasure with the status of the peace between Egypt and Israel, saying it was just a peace between governments and not between peoples.
