VATICAN Iran's new Ambassador to the Vatican Hojjatoleslam Dr. Mostafa Boroujerdi arrived in Rome Thursday and was greeted by Iranian Embassy officials and representative of Iranian enterprises in Italy, and a papal nuncio.

Mostafa Boroujerdi succeeds Mohammad-Hadi Khodaie.

Boroujerdi, 38, holds a doctorate in theology and speaks English, French and Arabic. He was Iranian charge d'affaires to Madagascar from 1993 to 1997.

Iran-Vatican relations entered a new phase in the wake of the visit to Italy two years ago by the Iranian President Mohammad Khatami.

(IRNA)