“It is now exploiting areas of turmoil and sectarian divides, and it has succeeded, unfortunately, in tampering with this nation as its cunning and treachery and authoritarianism allows,” he said.

“The results of this cunning tampering were that Iraq was lost, and Syria was burned, and Yemen is being torn apart, and Libya has been destroyed. There is still a lot up their sleeves that only God knows, and from which we seek refuge with God.”

All sides in Egypt’s internal conflicts between the Muslim Brotherhood, supporters of the army, and secular Left-wing activists have relied on a steady stream of anti-American invective over the years, despite the fact that whoever was in power was happy to accept American military support, including financial backing.