Iran to attend Istanbul Conference for Afghanistan

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi said Tuesday that he will take part in a conference on Afghanistan to be held in Istanbul, Turkey, the official IRNA news agency reported. \"I\'m to attend the conference because President Ahmadinejad has advised me to do so,\" Salehi said in Tehran. Salehi said Afghanistan has a special strategic place in the Middle East region and Iran as a neighbor is very keen on its peace and tranquility, said the report. He expressed hope that the Istanbul conference would be in the Afghans\' interests. \"Istanbul Conference for Afghanistan\" which aims at encouraging regional cooperation to restore peace and prosperity in Afghanistan will begin in Istanbul on Wednesday.