The bombers who targeted the Italian consulate in central Cairo at the weekend wanted to strike at cooperation between the two countries in fighting terrorism, foreign minister Paolo Gentiloni said on Monday.
"They wanted to attack Italy's historic presence here in Cairo," Gentiloni told journalists at press conference he held in the Egyptian capital in the wake of the Saturday's blast.
Egypt's affiliate of the Islamic State militant group claimed the attack which the Egyptian health ministry said killed one person and injured four.
"Certainly, they wanted to strike at collaboration between Egypt and Italy, the European Union and various European countries in battling terrorism," Gentiloni said.
"But such attempts will not succeed. We will continue to fight terrorism and to build peace."
The main entrance of the Italian consulate building was almost totally destroyed in the bombing, its windows were shattered and the building was flooded after water-pipes ruptured.
Gentiloni thanked Egypt's president Abdel Fatah al-Sisi and the government for their "solidarity" after the attack - the first on a foreign mission since jihadists launched an insurgency against the country's security forces two years ago following a crackdown on Islamists.
Egypt's authorities have vowed to step up security at the Italian mission in Cairo, which is housed in an historic building between Ramses train station and the iconic Tahrir Square, amid a maze of busy streets.
Egypt has also said it will rebuild the Italian consulate building.
