Iran president to make first Europe visit in decade

Hassan Rouhani is to visit the Vatican, Rome and Paris from Saturday, becoming the first Iranian president to travel to Europe for a decade, state news agency IRNA has reported.

He also plans to deliver a speech at the Leaders' Forum of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation in Paris. 

It said the tour, which follows the July 14 nuclear accord between the Islamic republic and world powers, will take the president for official talks in Italy before he travels on to France to meet his French counterpart Francois Hollande in Paris on November 17. 

In Rome, Rouhani meet the Italian president, prime minister and other officials, and hold a meeting with a number of investors and large business owners, reported the Tehran Times. 

He will then head for Vatican City to meet Pope Francis and Prime Minister Archbishop Pietro Parolin. 

Several ministers will reportedly accompany the president.