Minister Dlamini Zuma meets Dr. Ali Larinjani for Bilateral Discussions in Tehran

Tehran - South African Foreign Minister Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, today Thursday 31 July held bilateral discussions with Iranian Speaker of Parliament, Dr. Ali Larinjani in Tehran.

Minister Dlamini Zuma is in Iran where she led the South African government delegation firstly to the Non-Aligned Movement’s Ministerial Session and the SA- Iran Joint Commission of Co-operation.

During her visit to Iran, Minister Dlamini Zuma held a series of bilateral discussions with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Dr. Saeed Jalili Secretary for Iran’s National Security Council for discussions on Iran’s nuclear programme.

In this regard, Minister Dlamini Zuma reiterated South Africa’s firm belief in the right of Iran to have access to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. In this context, Minister Dlamini Zuma underlined the need for the IAEA to ensure safeguards. Once the IAEA has ascertained thus, Iran should then be treated equally.

Minister Dlamini Zuma further bilateral talks with Foreign Ministers of Sierra Leone, Belarus, Venezuela, Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK), Serbia, Bosnia, Jamaica and Somalia

Minister Dlamini Zuma is expected to return to South Africa on Sunday 3 August ahead of her scheduled visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo for the SA-DRC Ministerial Review Session from 6-7 August in Kinshasa.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa

SA Embassy-Iran
Department of Foreign Affairs

31 July 2008