Iran hopes to restore tourist flights to Egypt

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran says it hopes Egypt can resume tourist flights to the country to improve relations.

‘‘We hope to witness more visits between the two nations,’’ said Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast on earlier this week.

Egypt suspended tourist flights from Iran on Monday. It did not give a reason but the move followed an outcry from hard-line Sunni Muslims angered about visitors from the mostly Shiite country, only a week after direct flights between the two countries resumed for the first time in more than three decades.

Last week, protesters from the ultraconservative Salafi movement tried to storm the residence of Iran’s top diplomat in Cairo.

In reaction, a group of Iranian students went Tuesday to Egypt’s interest section in Tehran and handed it flowers as a gesture of friendship.