Iran and Zimbabwe strengthen ties as President Ebrahim Raisi wraps up Africa tour on Thursday

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On his final stop of a three-nation African tour, Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi was greeted in Zimbabwe on Thursday by crowds shouting anti-Western songs as he arrived. His goal was to develop new trade partnerships to lessen the effects of U.S. sanctions on his country. 12 agreements were inked between Iran and Zimbabwe to strengthen bilateral ties.

After Raisi’s plane touched down in the nation’s capital of Harare on Thursday, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa hailed him as “my brother” on the airport runway.

Numerous members of the Muslim community in the country of Southern Africa were among the hundreds of people with welcome banners who gathered at Robert Mugabe International Airport. “You see me when you see him. Mnangagwa addressed the audience that had gathered around the two chiefs of state and was waving the Zimbabwean and Iranian flags. “When you see me, you see him,” he said.

Mnangagwa stated, “When we went to war, Iran was our friend,” alluding to Zimbabwe’s 1980 conflict with Britain for independence. “I am pleased that you came to express solidarity.”

Iran and Zimbabwe - President Raisi and Mnangagwa
President Raisi and ED Mnangagwa’s meeting

Mnangagwa, ED’s Plans to establish a tractor manufacturing facility in Zimbabwe with an Iranian company and a local partner are among the 12 agreements that were signed later in the day. Others outline collaboration on initiatives involving research, science, and technology as well as in the fields of energy, agriculture, medicines, and telecommunications.

Both nations are subject to US sanctions, and Raisi’s journey to Africa, during which he also visited Kenya and Uganda, comes as Iran works to strengthen its diplomatic ties and lessen its isolation on the global stage.

“Our cooperation with Zimbabwe and our cooperation with the African continent, which is a continent full of potential, could help us for mutual advances,” Raisi said in remarks that were translated for Zimbabweans to hear. Mnangagwa, for his part, stated that Zimbabwe welcomed “investments in several sectors of our economy” without elaborating on the amount of funding his nation anticipated from Iran.

Conclusion

Nasser Kanani, a spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry, called Raisi’s trip “a new turning point” that might improve relations between Iran and African countries in terms of trade and economics. The three African nations and Tehran, he added, “share common political views.” On Wednesday, Iran also struck agreements with Kenya and Uganda. Following a trip to three more Latin American nations, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, all of which are subject to US sanctions, in June, Raisi made his way to Africa.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who was president at the time, paid Zimbabwe’s last visit by an Iranian official in 2010.

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