MNA� Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif departed for Jakarta on Sunday night to participate in the first summit of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).


Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Ghasemi said that�Zarif will stay in Jakarta for the three-day event to be held from Sunday to Tuesday, on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of its establishment.

The three-day summit is underway at three levels of seniors, ministries and leaders and Zarif will represent Iran on Tuesday, March 17, at the level of leaders, he noted.

The IORA Summit has been convened under the theme �Strengthening Maritime Cooperation for a Peaceful� Stable and Prosperous Indian Ocean� to commemorate 20 years of the Association�s existence.

The association consists of 21 coastal member states bordering the Indian Ocean� stretching from South Africa in the west� running up the eastern coast of Africa� along the Persian Gulf to South and Southeast Asia� ending with Australia in the east.