South African President’s Iran Visit Postponed


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – South African President Jacob Zuma has postponed his visit to Iran, the presidency announced on Wednesday.

"South Africa is working on new dates with the Islamic Republic of Iran and South Africa also looks forward to the state visit, which will take relations between the two countries to a higher level," spokesperson Bongani Majola said in a statement.

It was announced earlier this week that Zuma would visit Iran on February 28 and 29 to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries, News24 reported on Wednesday.

The report added that Zuma will be in Burundi on Thursday. He has been appointed the convenor of an African Union committee of five heads of state and governments tasked with addressing the political situation in the country.

The growing number of high-ranking officials’ visits to Tehran come against the backdrop of a new wave of interest in ties with Iran after the country and six world powers on July 14, 2015 reached a conclusion over the text of a comprehensive deal on Tehran's nuclear program and implemented the agreement on January 16.

The nuclear deal between Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) terminated all nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Iran.

Experts believe that Iran's economic growth would rise remarkably after the final nuclear deal takes effect.