CAIRO — Iran's top envoy says Egypt's President Mohammed Morsi has been invited to visit Iran. Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi told reporters on Thursday that he delivered the invitation to Morsi from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad during a meeting in Cairo. During talks with Morsi about the Syrian crisis, Salehi says he reiterated Iran's position that the Syrian government needs to open dialogue with the opposition to avoid “foreign intervention.” Salehi praised Egypt's revolution and its new, Islamist-led government. He also met Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar — one of the most prestigious seats of learning in the Sunni world. The two men stressed the importance of Muslim unity and Salehi said there were no differences between Muslims, whether they were Sunnis or Shiites. “Egypt and Iran are among the most important states in the Middle East, with influence in the region, and they can compete each other in the fields of economy and trade,” Salehi told Egyptian state television. During his 30 years in power, ousted leader Hosni Mubarak was deeply suspicious of Iran and never visited Tehran. — AP
