Foreign affairs spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa said that the minister would discuss with Mottaki "matters of mutual interest, including developments around Iran's nuclear program."

South Africa has maintained Iran's right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, while Iran insisted that it only wanted to develop nuclear energy.

World powers meeting in Paris on Wednesday agreed to refer Iran back to the UN security council over its refusal to suspend uranium enrichment.

The spokesman said that once Dlamini-Zuma concludes her talks with Mottaki, she would fly to Moscow, where she would join President Thabo Mbeki and a South African delegation to attend the G8 summit.