According to Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi, Zarif will head a high-ranking politico-economic delegation to the South African capital of Pretoria for talks with the country’s senior officials.
Expansion of bilateral ties is among the main topics to be discussed during the Iranian foreign minister’s visit to South Africa.
Zarif last visited South Africa back in October 2017 to attend the 13th meeting of the two sides’ Joint Commission.
Iran and South Africa share historical bilateral relations. Iran supported the South African liberation movements.
The Islamic Republic severed its ties with South Africa in 1979 and banned doing any business with the African country in protest against its apartheid policies. However, in January 1994, Tehran lifted all trade and economic sanctions against South Africa and diplomatic relations were reestablished soon.
