Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited Grand Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb of al-Azhar. This is the first Iranian high-ranking official in president level visit to a religious authority of Egypt.
Sheikh Ahmad al-Tayeb described Iran as ‘brother nation’ and expressed his interest to visit Iran, which Qom religious society welcomed.
Ahmadinejad also visited a number of religious experts (ulema) of al-Azhar, and asserted that Iran and Egypt had deep cultural ties, and common beliefs and traditions. “If two nations stand together, all regions’ nations will benefit,” he emphasized.
He pointed to his discussions with al-Azhar officials. “We discussed important issues of Islamic world and the region, and fortunately, have common visions to reform world situation. We agreed to expand scientific and cultural cooperation,” he added.
“I invited Egyptian religious officials to a visit to Iran, and they accepted with magnanimity,” Ahmadinejad said.
SH/EA
MNA
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Publish Date: 6 February 2013 - 10:38
TEHRAN, Feb. 6 (MNA) – Iran’s president visits an al-Azhar grand sheikh in his round of visit to Egypt.