Iranian FM meets several African diplomats, officials

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, in separate meetings with a number of African states\' foreign ministers and officials who came to Tehran to take part in President Rouhani\'s inaugural ceremony, discussed ways for the expansion of bilateral ties between Iran and Africa. The Iranian foreign minister, in separate meetings with Burundian Foreign Minister Laurent Kavakure, Togolese Foreign Minister Elliott Ohin, and Nigerien Presidential Advisor and Special Emissary Hama Abdurrahman called for strengthening ties between Iran and the said African countries. Tehran has prioritized promotion of its economic and political ties with the African states and the country is now considered as one of the African Union\'s strategic partners. Tehran\'s efforts to boost ties and cooperation with Africa have led to its acceptance as an observing member of the African Union (AU), where it has shown an active presence in the AU summit meetings.