TEHRAN -- President Mahmud Ahmadinejad left Tehran on Wednesday accompanied by a delegation of high-ranking officials to start his 10-day international tour to Senegal, Cuba, Venezuela, and the United Nations in New York.

“There is a great potential for cooperation between Iran and Senegal. We intend to improve our cooperation in regard to previous agreements signed by the two countries,” he told reporters before his departure.

“Economic conferences will be held in Cuba and mutual relations will be discussed,” he explained.

During the visit to Cuba, Iran will assume the chairmanship of the Group of 15, he added.

After one day in Dakar, Ahmadinejad will travel to Havana for a summit of Non-Aligned Movement leaders on Friday and Saturday before heading to Venezuela for a one-day visit.

Ahmadinejad will then travel to New York on Monday to take part in the UN General Assembly meeting and visit with heads of state and government of various countries from September 18 to 20.