IRNA – Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif will depart Tehran on Wednesday to participate in the annual Mediterranean Dialogues Conference (MED) in Italy, the ministry spokesman said.

The foreign minister in the visit will meet with some Italian officials as well as his counterparts, as well as participating in some economic and cultural programs, Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi said.

Zarif who is visiting Italy upon an official invitation of the country's foreign minister, will deliver a speech at MED, he added.

It is expected, according to the spokesman, that representatives from 56 countries attend the conference.

The Iranian foreign minister participated in and addressed the third round of MED last year.