Salehi departs Tehran for Tunis
Iran’s Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has departed Tehran for the Tunisian capital for an official two-day visit and to hold talks with senior officials of the North African country.
Salehi, heading a political and parliamentary delegation, began his trip on Monday at the invitation of his Tunisian counterpart Rafik Abdessalem.
The Iranian and Tunisian officials will discuss ways to expand politico-economic relations and will also exchange views on bolstering regional and international cooperation.
Speaking to reporters ahead of his departure, the Iranian minister said the two sides will discuss bilateral relations in trade and economic fields and the latest developments in the region.
Salehi added that the Muslim country of Tunisia is ready to host Iranian tourists, and expressed Iran's readiness to expand cooperation in tourism with the North African state.
The top diplomat’s visit is the first by a high-ranking Iranian official to Tunisia after the fall of Tunisia’s Western-backed dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in 2011.
In January 2011, popular protests by the Tunisians led to the ouster of the Western-propped dictator who is now facing charges of manslaughter.
Tunisia’s popular revolution sparked a wave of anti-regime protests - also known as the Islamic Awakening - in North Africa and the Middle East and led to the downfall of long-time dictators in Egypt and Libya.