Iran FM to head big delegation to Africa, Latin America

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Sunday will begin a four-leg tour of African and Latin American countries to discuss the strengthening of relations.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said the top diplomat will head a ranking political and economic delegation on the tour, which will take him to Senegal, Namibia, Brazil, and Uruguay.

Also accompanying him are representatives of dozens of Iranian companies as well as entrepreneurs from commercial, economic, and science-based spheres of activity, who hail from public and private sectors.

The minister will be holding meetings with political, economic, and parliamentary officials from the four countries. He will also be delivering addresses at joint economic and commercial gatherings as well as some think tanks.

Zarif last toured Africa last October, visiting South Africa, Uganda, and Niger.

Iranian FM Zarif begins key tour of Africa

Zarif left the capital Tehran for South Africa at the head of a ranking political and economic delegation on Saturday night, state news agency IRNA reported.

He went on a six-leg Latin America tour a year earlier, traveling to Cuba, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Chile, Bolivia, and Venezuela.

Iran’s Zarif starts Latin America tour

The visit is aimed at enhancing political and economic ties between Tehran and Latin American states.

The Islamic Revolution in 1979 resulted in a fundamental overhaul of Iranian foreign policy, changing its focus from the West to the developing world.

The former government of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad promoted the notion of an Iranian “South-South” strategy, aiming to expand relations with Africa and Latin America. In 2006, Ahmadinejad famously attended the African Union summit in Gambia as a guest of honor.