London – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif will kick off on Sunday a tour of North Africa that includes Algeria, Mauritania and Tunisia.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman said that the two-day visit will tackle regional developments, including Syria and the Arab Gulf.

Regional developments demand more solidarity, said spokesman Bahram Qasemi.

Separately, a delegation of Afghan officials, diplomats and negotiators began a trip to Iran to carry out negotiations on strategic cooperation with Iranian officials.

Zarif had paid a visit to the Afghan capital Kabul in May to kick off the negotiations that are aimed at reaching a strategic cooperation document.

Based on his talks, the two sides agreed to form five committees that cover security, economy, culture, water and immigrant affairs.

The foreign ministers of Iran and Afghanistan will chair these committees.

Meanwhile, Iranian and Chinese warships are set to carry out on Sunday a joint military drill in the Hormuz Strait and Oman Sea, reported the Iranian news agency IRNA.

The purpose of the exercise is to trade security expertise and preserve stability in the Indian Ocean and waterways in the area.