Iran's Rouhnai to visit Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan: official

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani will leave Tehran on Wednesday for a three-day tour to three Caucasian and central Asian states, Iranian president's deputy chief of staff for communications and information, Parviz Esmaeili, said on Sunday.

Heading a high-ranking politico-economic delegation, Rouhani will visit Armenia and Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan to discuss ways of improving mutual relations, state TV reported.

The trip will take place at the invitation of Rouhani's counterparts and in line with the Islamic republic's policy to improve relations with neighboring and regional countries, said Esmaeili.

During his day-long visit to Armenia's capital Yerevan on Wednesday, Rouhani will hold talks with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan on the expansion of cooperation, Esmaeili said, adding that senior Iranian and Armenian officials will also sign several trade and economic cooperation documents.

Rouhani will then leave Yerevan to the Kazakh capital, Astana, for a one-day visit.

Rouhani is scheduled to meet with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and attend a joint press conference with him while high-ranking delegations of the two countries will also hold a meeting and senior officials will sign documents for further cooperation, said Esmaeili.

On the last leg of his regional tour, Rouhani will head to Bishkek to hold talks with Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev and senior officials of the country.

Iranian and Kyrgyz officials will sign agreements to improve cooperation in different fields while business people from the two countries will attend a meeting, he added. Endit