Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif who left for Indonesia on Tuesday to attend the first ever summit of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) on behalf of President Hassan Rouhani, held talks with a number of senior officials from the IORA member states on the sidelines of the summit that is currently underway in Jakarta.
Zarif held meetings with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, Vice-President of India Mohammad Hamid Ansari, as well as foreign ministers of Indonesia, Kenya and South Africa.
The Iranian diplomat also met with France's Minister of International Cooperation and Japanese advisor for foreign affairs, and conferred with South African President Jacob Zuma, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and Malay Foreign Minister Anifah Aman, Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Vice President of Tanzania and Secretary General of the IORA K V Bhagirath.
The three-day event convened in Jakarta on Sunday at the senior officials’ level, proceeded by the Ministerial meeting attended by Iranian Deputy FM Abbas Araghchi on Monday. Zarif will participate at the leader’s meeting on behalf of President Rouhani today.
MS/3925498