Iran’s Zarif to attend Munich Security Conference

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is scheduled to attend the Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Germany, a senior Iranian official says.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for European and American Affairs Majid Takht-e-Ravanchi said on Saturday that Zarif will participate in the 50th Munich Security Conference (MSC) from January 31 to February 2, 2014.

MSC Chairman Wolfgang Ischinger said on Friday that an invitation has been delivered to the Islamic Republic, adding that he expects either Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif or a higher-ranking official to attend the conference.

The conference is attended by high-ranking decision-makers in foreign and security policy, business sector activists as well as civil society representatives.

Since its establishment in 1963, the MSC has evolved into a leading independent conference for the discussion of transatlantic and international security policy.

Iran’s former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi participated in the 49th MSC in February 2013, when talks revolved around the ongoing crisis in Syria.