TEHRAN (FNA)- Egypt’s Al-Azhar University, one of Muslim’s most prestigious institution, is considering opening a branch in Iran.

“Sheikh Mohammed Sayyid Tantawi, who heads Al-Azhar University has positively welcomed the request from the Iranian authorities to open a branch of his institute in Tehran and is said to be evaluating the proposal,” said a source within the management of the university to the London-based al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper.
Tantawi received a request from authorities in Tehran to open an institute linked to Al-Azhar to teach Sunni doctrine in the Iranian capital.
“An Iranian delegation led by head of Iran’s interest section in Cairo Seyed Hossein Rajabi visited the Sheikh (Tantawi) at Al-Azhar three days ago,” said the source.
“Together they agreed on the necessity to bring the experience of the teachings at Al-Azhar to Iran, to promote cultural cooperation and exchange of professors from religious universities between Cairo and Tehran.”
The source said that Tantawi has agreed to consider opening a branch of the university in Tehran.