Deputy foreign minister arrives in Pretoria

IRNA - Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Monday morning arrived in Pretoria to attend Iran-South Africa Joint Political Committee’s meeting.

He is also scheduled to meet with political and economic officials of South Africa, including South African foreign minister.

During the second leg of his African tour, Amir-Abdollahian will visit Zimbabwe.

Expansion of relations with African countries in political, economic and cultural fields is top on the agenda of the Iranian foreign policy.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said that his government welcomes boosting relations with the African nations.

Iran is also an observing member of the African Union (AU) and has shown an active presence in previous AU summit meetings.

The country is considered as one of the AU's strategic partners along with India, Japan, China, several South American states and Turkey. Tehran is also believed to be prioritizing promotion of its economic and political ties with the African states.

Last month, Pretoria's Ambassador to Tehran William Max Whitehead announced that South African President Jacob Zuma plans to pay an official visit to Iran before 2015.