Iran FM starts 3-nation regional tour for talks

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif embarked on a three-nation tour of regional countries on Sunday for talks on bilateral and regional issues, state IRIB TV reported.

Zarif left here for Kuwait Sunday on the first leg of his trip to be followed by Qatar and Iraq.

During his five-day visit to the three regional states, Zarif will meet with the officials of the countries to discuss bilateral relations, regional and international issues as well as the results of the recent nuclear agreement between Iran and the world powers.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, who accompanies Zarif in the trip, said that "the message of foreign minister's visit to the Arab states is to deepen friendly relations and to expand the all-out ties," official IRNA news agency reported.

The visit by Iranian foreign minister comes at the wake of recent nuclear deal between Iran and the P5+1 group -- including five permanent members of UN Security Council plus Germany -- which aimed to curb Iran's sensitive nuclear program and alleviate concerns over Iran's nuclear activities in return for the removal of international and western sanctions against the country.