In his six-day tour, Foreign Minister Zarif is scheduled to visit Nigeria, Ghana, Guinea-Conakry and Mali.
Back in February 2015, the top Iranian diplomat took another tour of Africa, and travelled to Kenya, Uganda, Burundi and Tanzania with a high-ranking political and economic delegation.
Expansion of relations with African countries in all political, economic and cultural fields has been a matter of prime importance in Iran’s foreign policy agenda.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who took office in August 2013, has repeatedly stressed his government’s interest in boosting relations with the African nations.