Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has departed from Tehran to Kabul, launching the first leg of his official three-nation tour.

The President commenced his tour of Afghanistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan early, after being officially seen off at Mehrabad International Airport by the Advisor to Leader of the Islamic Revolution on International Affairs, Ali-Akbar Velayati, early Tuesday.

A number of ministers and ambassadors of the three countries as well as First Vice-President Parviz Davoudi were also present at the airport.

The national anthem of the Islamic Republic of Iran was played and the participants reviewed a guard of honor.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, Secretary of Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Larijani, the Presidential Senior Advisor Mojtaba Samareh-Hashemi and a number of ministerial deputies are accompanying Ahmadinejad in his five-day official tour of the Central Asian countries.

During his day-long stay in Kabul, the Iranian President is to hold talks with his Afghan counterpart Hamed Karzai and other senior officials of the country.

The Iranian and Afghan officials are to explore avenues of enhancing bilateral relations.

Ahmadinejad and Karzai also plan to exchange views on the most pressing regional and international issues, and sign a comprehensive document fostering the escalation of future collaborations.

On the second-leg of his junket, the chief executive is expected to leave Kabul for Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, to hold discussions with Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov.

Ahmadinejad’s visit to Askhgabat is to take place upon an official invitation by Berdymukhammedov as a rejoinder to the Turkmen president’s visit to Tehran on June 15.

The Iranian President will conclude his tour by visiting Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on August 16 to deliver a speech at the 7th summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), also meeting with presidents of the SCO member countries and senior Kyrgyz officials.

Main members in attendance at the SCO summit are top-ranking officials from China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, while senior officials from Iran and Mongolia and the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan will take part as observers.

The Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and high-ranking officials from Afghanistan and Turkmenistan are also among the participants.