Iran’s President to meet Pope Francis

Rouhani’s visit to Italy and France is a pretty big deal in global politics, as it’s the first time the Iranian president has travelled to Europe in the last decade, IRNA said.

French President Francois Hollande, expressed support for the nuclear agreement that was signed in July in order to ensure the peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear program and which stipulates the lifting of sanctions imposed upon the Islamic Republic. It’s claimed this request was rejected by officials at the Elysée, who are said to have politely declined citing France’s “republican traditions”.

French officials apparently suggested a breakfast meeting instead, which was apparently dismissed by the Iranians as being “too cheap”.

Fuming Mr Ahmadinejad is said to have then crossed his own legs while the two men chatted to return the insult.

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has refused a dinner invitation at the French presidential palace with his counterpart François Hollande, because wine was on the menu, French broadcaster RTL reports.

France has a long history of commercial, political and social links with Iran – in the 1970s revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomenei lived in exile near Paris.

The tour – which comes four months after the Iran nuclear deal was reached – will first take Rohani to Italy, where he will meet President Sergio Mattarella and Pope Francis, Iranian presidential spokesman Parviz Esmaili told IRNA.