Abuja, July 24, IRNA � Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif arrived here in the Nigerian capital in the first leg of his tour to West Africa on Sunday night.



The Iranian foreign minister is slated to visit other West African states after wrapping his tour of Nigeria.

Zarif will meet the presidents, parliament speakers and foreign ministers of the African states during his tour to West Africa.
arif started a four-nation tour of West Africa on Sunday to discuss possible ways of expanding ties.

Zarif, heading a high-ranking politico-economic delegation, left Tehran for Abuja in Nigeria on the first leg of his tour which will later take him to Ghana, Guinea-Conakry and Mali.

During his six-day visit to West Africa, the Iranian minister is slated to hold talks with senior African officials and also take part in meetings with those countries' private sector.

Zarif has already paid two official visits to Africa since he became foreign minister three years ago.

The Iranian foreign minister visited four East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, and Tanzania in February 2015.

The Iranian foreign minister also made a visit to North African countries of Tunisia and Algeria in August 2015.

By IRNA