Iran, Niger agree to lift visa restrictions

Iran and Niger,in a ceremony attended by the presidents of the two countries, agreed to lift visa requirements for each other's visitors.During the ceremony in Niamey on Tuesday, the Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi and his Nigerien counterpart Bazoum Mohamed signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on lifting visa requirements.Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who left Tehran on a three-leg African tour on Monday, told the media before his departure that development of ties with the black continent sets Iran's principled policy.President Ahmadinejad's administration has striven hard to maximize relations with the African continent.Iran is also an observing member of the AU and has shown an active presence in previous AU summit meetings.The country is considered as one of the AU's strategic partners along with India, Japan, China, several South American states and Turkey, while Tehran is also believed to be prioritizing promotion of its economic and political ties with the African states.