AfricaIran

Iran’s FM Begins Tour of Africa

A1127181Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi left Tehran for Benin on Saturday to start his tour of Africa.

Salehi is scheduled to arrive in Cotonou, Benin’s largest city, on the first leg of his African tour.

The visit comes in response to the last year visit to Tehran by Benin’s foreign minister.

In August 2011, Iran and Benin signed 4 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), including lifting visa requirements for the two countries’ nationals who hold political and service passports.

The agreements were signed by Iranian Salehi and his Beninese counterpart Nassirou Arifari Bako here in Tehran at the time.

The Benin Republic is located in West Africa and neighbors Niger in the North, Nigeria in the East, Togo in the West, and Benin Gulf in the South.

Tehran has prioritized promotion of its economic and political ties with the African states and the country is now considered as one of the African Union’s strategic partners.

Tehran’s efforts to boost ties and cooperation with Africa have led to its acceptance as an observing member of the African Union (AU), where it has shown an active presence in the AU summit meetings.

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