TEHRAN - Former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder is in Iran for a four-day informal visit, according to IRNA.

Schroeder is leading a 27-man high-level delegation as part of the honorary chairman of the Berlin-based Near and Middle East Association (NUMOV) which promotes German business activities in the Mideast.

The ex-chancellor is scheduled to meet with top Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani, Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh and Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh.

Schroeder is also slated to hold talks with Iranian Central Bank governor Valiollah Seif and Expediency Council Chairman Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

Schroeder was initially supposed to travel to Iran in November, however, he had to call it off because of the passing away of former German chancellor Helmut Schmidt.

SP/P