Italian foreign minister to visit Iran

Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino is scheduled to visit Iran to consult with senior Iranian officials on issues of mutual interests as well as international developments, Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) reported. On Thursday, the Italian minster said that she will be visiting Tehran "in the next few days," the Italian news agency ANSA reported. According to the Italian news agency, Bonino’s visit will be the first official visit to Tehran by an Italian foreign minister after almost 10 years. In 2004, Italy’s then Foreign Minister Franco Frattini visited Iran. The Italian foreign minister will exchange views on regional and international issues during meetings with Iranian officials. Reports say Bonino’s visit mainly aims at boosting commercial ties between Iran and Italy. Bonino had previously said, "Our cooperation with Iran was traditionally very, very good.