September 27 2009

South Africa’s International Relations and Cooperation deputy Minister, Ebrahim Ebrahim has today arrived in Iran ahead of the fourth meeting of SA-Iran deputy Ministerial Working Group. According to the department, South Africa and Iran are expected to enhance bilateral relations at the two-day meeting which kicks-off tomorrow.

The department says the meeting comes within the context of South Africa’s priority and commitment in enhancing and broadening the scope of the relationship and cooperation with Iran especially in trade and economic matters within the framework of South-South Cooperation. While in Iran, Ebrahim will also pay a courtesy call on deputy Minister of Economy and Finance, Seyed Shamseddin Hosseini.

Diplomatic relations between South Africa and Iran were re- established on May 10, 1994 after the first democratic elections. Ambassador Mohammed Sharif Mahdavi was the first Iranian Ambassador to South Africa after the resumption of diplomatic relations. In turn, Ambassador Moosa Moolla was the first South African Head of Mission in Tehran after the resumption of ties.

In 1995, South Africa and Iran established a Joint Bilateral Commission (JBC) to allow for a high-level review of bilateral relations and to consider ways in which these relations could be expanded further.

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