British cabinet office minister, Mo Mowlam, arrived in Tehran Saturday becoming the first British cabinet minister to visit Iran since the Islamic revolution in 1979, said reports.
Mowlam, on a three-day visit, will sign an agreement with Iranian officials on cooperation in the struggle to stamp out drugs, said the BBC.online.
During the past five years, the UK has given four million dollars to the United Nations anti-drug efforts in Iran to help combat the problem of narcotics, said the Iranian News Agency (IRNA).
The amount is the largest contribution made by Britain to any country on combating drugs, added the agency.
Mowlam, who is prematurely retiring from parliament at the forthcoming general election, will give the opening address at the “Drugs Demand Reduction” seminar being held in Tehran.
She is also expected to visit a drug rehabilitation center in Isfahan province, said IRNA.
The BBC added that Mowlam’s visit is being seen as conveying a political message as well.
Mowlam arrived in Tehran at an extremely delicate time, both in Iran's relations with Europe and in the country's internal political situation, added the news service – Albawaba.com
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