Irani FM says he will visit North Korea

E-Paper | July 18, 2026

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says he will visit North Korea as both countries struggle under the United States sanctions.

Iran's official IRNA news agency on Sunday quoted Mohammad Javad Zarif as saying that the visit is being planned and a date will be announced soon.

The US has ramped up sanctions on Iran since President Donald Trump withdrew from its 2015 nuclear accord with world powers last year.

The US has tightened sanctions on North Korea to try to persuade it to give up its nuclear weapons.

An Iranian parliamentary delegation visited North Korea in December, and North Korea's top diplomat, Ri Yong Ho, visited Iran in August.

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Anti-Corruption_Pakistani

Apr 28, 2019 03:18pm

In my view, any country is entitled to associate with any other country to defend their territory from outside aggression. Iran is trying to build their own allies against any outside intervention through different means. (Mian Hu Awam ki Awaz).

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Hamid Ullah Khan

Apr 28, 2019 04:38pm

Supreme leaders of both countries have many traits in common except appearance.

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Prateik

Apr 28, 2019 05:13pm

Well. North Korea has shown flexibility to talk to USA.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Apr 28, 2019 05:53pm

The sooner, the better.

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Must learn

Apr 28, 2019 06:04pm

There’s nothing common in N.Korea and Iran, except both affectees of US sanctions, NK area 46.5K sq miles pop 2.52 crores, Iran 636.4K sq miles, pop 8.20 crores, NK fully pampered by China+Russia, is a puppet like small satellite state. Iran rich will oil & mineral resources bordering CAS state, Turkey,Iraq,Pak & Afghanistan, both NK & Iran can survive indefinitely with any or all sanctions in place. Instead of spend money on placing or maintaining sanctions there’s a much affordable and viable option the diplomatic option, US need not talk directly to Iran, NK, just take China. Russia on board as intermediaries, and initiate talk to resolve the irritants.

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Laila

Apr 28, 2019 06:20pm

@Anti-Corruption_Pakistani, well yes but morally it is wrong considering what N. Korea stands for but then again Iran is not a strange to such ill treatment of fellow Iranians. One takes what one can get.

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Pervez

Apr 28, 2019 06:23pm

Would our FM do the same?

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fairplay

Apr 28, 2019 06:36pm

He should visit China to begin a strategic relationship for passenger aircraft and other needs, the EU are unreliable in the face of US pressure.

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Syed Zafar Kazmi U.S.A

Apr 28, 2019 06:50pm

@Hamid Ullah Khan, “Supreme leaders of both countries have many traits in common except appearance.” But still more commonalities exist between North Korea & Saudi Arabia.

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Gordon D. Walker

Apr 28, 2019 07:13pm

Help each other stand up to Trump and company... Gordon D. Walker Canada

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fairplay

Apr 28, 2019 07:48pm

Right idea, wrong country to visit.

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fairplay

Apr 28, 2019 07:50pm

@Laila, agree, but Iran was trying to order planes from Boeing, instead of otherchouces. Not many, but still move in a different direction.

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Sameer

Apr 29, 2019 08:13am

This will huge. New battle lines being drawn.

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