VIENNA -- Iran's Interior Minister Abdolvahab Mousavi Lari will leave Tehran today for Vienna on the first leg of a two-nation tour of Austria and Turkey, IRNA reported.

Lari will confer with his Austrian counterpart Ernst Strasser, Parliament Speaker Heinz Fischer as well as a number of economists on issues of mutual interests.

During the visit, which is taking place at Strasser's invitation, the two sides will seek to broaden mutual cooperation at various fields as well as forge deeper bilateral ties.

High ranking officials from the two countries have exchanged visits in the past few years although bilateral relations have experienced many ups and downs.

Lari's visit to Austria is taking place within the framework of Tehran-Vienna ties in areas of mutual interest.