Iran's president, Ebrahim Raisi, has embarked on a rare diplomatic trip to Africa in a bid to strengthen global partnerships amid heavy U.S. economic sanctions targeting his country. His visit to Kenya, which marks the first by an Iranian leader to the African continent in over a decade, will also include stops in Uganda and Zimbabwe, where he will hold meetings with their respective presidents, Independent reports.
Raisi highlighted the potential of Africa as a "continent of opportunities" and a promising market for Iranian goods during a press briefing. Although he emphasized the desire to boost trade volume, the agreements signed between Iran and Kenya were focused on areas such as information technology, fisheries, animal health, livestock production, and investment promotion, rather than addressing mineral resources or petrochemical collaboration.
Kenyan President William Ruto hailed Iran as a "critical strategic partner" and expressed interest in expanding agricultural exports to Iran and Central Asia beyond tea. Additionally, plans for establishing an Iranian vehicle manufacturing plant in Kenya's Mombasa port city were revealed.
Iran's foreign ministry stated that Raisi's visit aims to bolster economic diplomacy, enhance political ties with friendly nations, and diversify export destinations. Raisi's recent international engagements include visits to Latin American countries and a significant diplomatic breakthrough with Saudi Arabia, marked by a re-establishment of diplomatic relations.
Amid Iran's growing confrontation with Western nations over its nuclear program, which has advanced significantly since the U.S. withdrew from the international nuclear agreement, Raisi's visit reflects Iran's efforts to engage diplomatically across diverse regions. Meanwhile, the U.S. has recently accused Iran of aiding Russia's drone manufacturing capabilities amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The specific details of Raisi's visits to Uganda and Zimbabwe remain undisclosed. Uganda, while being a U.S. security ally, has expressed support for Iran's nuclear program in the past, and it is aiming to establish a nuclear power plant with China's assistance. Zimbabwe, like Iran, is under U.S. sanctions and has shown an inclination to deepen cooperation, particularly in the petroleum trade sector, as evidenced by a ministerial delegation's visit to Tehran earlier this year.
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