By Ahmet Dursun

ANKARA

An Iranian state university is planning to inaugurate a branch in Syria, an Iranian education official said on Thursday.

“The planned establishment of the Tarbiat Modares University in Syria aims to provide education for Syrian students in their own country,” Iran’s IRNA news agency quoted Mansour Gholami, Iran’s science, research and technology minister, as saying.

He made the remarks at a meeting in Tehran of the Syria-Iran Parliamentary Friendship Group.

The university will provide an opportunity for Syrian students to complete their graduate and post-graduate studies, according to Gholami.

"We’re hoping to receive a larger number of students," the minister said.

Iranian officials have repeatedly expressed their desire to contribute to the development of post-war Syria.

Iran has recently signed several agreements with the Syrian regime, especially in the reconstruction, infrastructure and commercial fields.

According to media reports, several Iran-backed Shia militias continue to operate in Syria in support of the Assad regime.