Iran FM heads to Lebanon to begin Mideast tour

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad- Javad Zarif left Tehran for Beirut on Sunday on the first leg of his four-nation Middle East tour, official IRNA news agency reported. The Syrian issue, along with and the upcoming peace talks on the war-torn nation, counter-terrorism, bilateral relations, and regional and international cooperation are on the agenda for talks between Zarif and the Lebanese officials. The Iranian foreign minister is scheduled to meet his Lebanese counterpart, the president, the parliament speaker and the prime minister of Lebanon during his stay in the country, according to IRNA. Zarif will also visit Syria, Jordan and Iraq for his next stops in accordance with Iran's regional diplomacy. Zarif's previous regional tour took him to the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Turkey.