TEHRAN May 03(Shana)--A high-ranking business delegation from South Africa will arrive in Tehran next week to discuss energy deals with Iran, said South African Minister of Energy Tina Joemat-Pettersson during a Tehran visit.

She said her visit was aimed at preparing for the extensive meetings which are expected to be held with Pretoria's foreign minister and his Iranian counterpart, she said.

"My visit here is actually a preparation for a meeting which we will have within the next week [in Iran]. We are discussing a very broad memorandum of understanding which will allow us to unlock a lot of business activities between the two countries," she said.
She described the relationships between Tehran and Pretoria as historic, "which cannot be forgotten or wiped."

"We want to see that kind of relations hip restored to its former glory," Pettersson said, adding that her country is interested in enhancing ties with Iran in a range of petroleum areas including petrochemicals, gas,�liquefied natural gas (LNG) and�liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).


She further said South Africa is seeking to establish a framework which would allow the private sectors of the countries to enter into joint ventures.

By SHANA