Austrian president says will bring up human rights on Iran visit
Austrian President Heinz Fischer, set to be the first Western head of state in over a decade to visit Iran, said on Thursday he would bring up human rights on his trip next week, including Tehran's use of the death penalty.
Austria, which did not break relations with Iran after its 1979 Islamic Revolution, hosted marathon talks this year that led to a landmark deal between Tehran and six world powers on its disputed nuclear program. Fischer, whose predecessor Thomas Klestil was the last Western head of state to visit Iran, in 2004, is scheduled to meet President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif during his Sept. 7-9 trip. Fischer is also due to have a meeting with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to his office -- a rare event for a visiting non-Muslim dignitary.
