Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will visit Iran from May 11 to 13 to boost bilateral ties and cooperation, the Foreign Ministry said yesterday.

Abdullah is scheduled to call on Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, Expediency Council Chairman Ali Akhbar Rafsaanjani and Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameini on May 12, it said in a statement to the Bernama news

Four ministers to follow

Abdullah, who will be accompanied by four ministers, a deputy minister and senior officials, is also scheduled to deliver a keynote address at the Iran-Malaysia Industry Trade and Investment Exchange 2005 in Esfahan on May 13.

The visit would be Abdullah's first official visit to Iran since assuming the premiership in October 2003 when veteran leader Mahathir Mohamad retired after 22 years in power.