UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has met with the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei and Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the Iranian capital city, Tehran.
Ayatollah Imam Khamenei held talks with Ban and his accompanying delegation on Wednesday afternoon, as part of the UN chief's two-day visit to Iran to attend the 16th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
On Wednesday, Ban was received by Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations, Mohammad Khazaei on Wednesday.
"Iran has a very important role, crucially important role to play in the region, particularly when it comes to the Syrian situation, and I am going to discuss this matter with Supreme Leader [of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei] and President [Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]...," he told Khazaei.
"I am very pleased to visit Iran on the occasion of 16th Non-Aligned Movement summit meeting and I should thank government of Iran for inviting me and for the warm hospitality. I am already overwhelmed by such a warm hospitality by the people and government of Iran," he said adding, he was "looking forward to having very constructive and useful discussions and meetings with senior leadership of Iran...."
Ban had left New York for the Islamic Republic on Tuesday.
Khazaei for his part said, "The presence of the United Nations secretary general in the 16th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement indicates the great importance of this summit and its key role in the international relations."
He added that the visit "will last at least for two days...."
The summit is currently in its third day and will last for two more days. Iran's Leader Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei is scheduled to address the heads of state meeting on Thursday.
Ban's visit came despite strict opposition from the US and "Israel". The US State Department has said the visit "sends a very strange signal..." and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told the UN chief that he would be making "a big mistake" if he joined the summit.
Earlier during the day, Ban also held a meeting with President Ahmadinejad, discussing regional and international issues with the Iranian chief executive.
Iran's foreign ministry says more delegations are expected to arrive throughout the day. About 55 delegations will be represented at the level of foreign minister.
More than 100 countries are partaking in the NAM meeting which kicked off at the expert level in Tehran on Sunday.
