Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki is due to discuss security, political and economic issues with Syrian officials during a three-day visit to Damascus starting from Monday, a Syrian official said.

Iranian Interior Minister Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi said that government encourages and supports foreign investments in Iran, specially by Muslim countries, adding that the world of Islam is in need of such participation and partnership.

An earth tremor measuring 3.4 on the Richter scale jolted the city of Khonj in Iran’s southern province of Fars on Saturday.