Ebrahim Raisi visited Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba, three allies of Tehran within the area, on a five-day journey.
Tehran, Iran – Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has returned from a tour of Latin America and signed dozens of agreements with three allies who share Tehran’s defiance of the West.
The Iranian president, accompanied by the ministers of international affairs, protection, oil and well being, arrived in Tehran on Friday after a five-day go to to Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba.
During his go to, Raisi criticized the United States and financial sanctions imposed on Iran and its allies in Latin America.
“The relations between Iran and Venezuela usually are not regular diplomatic relations. They are strategic,” Raisi mentioned in Caracas, the place he was warmly obtained by President Nicolas Maduro.
“The international locations of Iran and Venezuela are widespread enemies and are not looking for us to reside independently,” he mentioned, referring to Washington.
The two international locations have signed greater than 20 agreements.
Some are associated to power, together with agreements on the event of oil platforms and petrochemical crops, whereas agreements on transport, agriculture, well being care, info know-how, insurance coverage and cultural ties have been additionally signed.
Iran and Venezuela signed a 20-year cooperation plan final 12 months throughout President Maduro’s go to to Tehran. Both presidents mentioned this week that the brand new settlement is according to higher implementation of the plan.
Raisi mentioned in Caracas that annual bilateral commerce now quantities to greater than $3 billion, and that the 2 international locations may enhance to $10 billion within the medium time period, with a purpose of $20 billion. Ta.
President Maduro unveiled the bust of Iranian basic Qasem Soleimani, who was assassinated in a US drone strike in Iraq in January 2020, and Simón Bolívar, the Venezuelan army and political chief who led components of Latin America into Iraq. He mentioned he wish to set up it the place the youngsters sleep. Independence from Spanish colonial rule two centuries in the past.
The theme of praising Soleimani and bashing Washington continued at Raisi’s subsequent cease, Managua.
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega stood subsequent to Raisi and gave a couple of minutes of speech to Soleimani, after which the 2 leaders noticed a second of silence for Soleimani.
“We pay our respects to all of the heroes and martyrs of Iran, particularly General Qasem Soleimani, who was assassinated by Yankee imperialism in the course of the struggle towards terrorism,” Ortega mentioned.
Iran’s president has slammed the sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran and Nicaragua following the collapse of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and the crackdown on Nicaraguan rebels.
“The United States wished to paralyze the folks with threats and sanctions, however they have been unable to take action,” Raisi mentioned, later addressing Nicaragua’s parliament.
According to Iranian state media, the 2 presidents signed a number of agreements protecting financial and commerce cooperation and the well being sector.
Cuban president visits Tehran
The Iranian president visited Havana on the ultimate leg of his tour. He was welcomed by Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, who promised to strengthen political engagement with Tehran.
“The Iranian president’s go to to our nation on this context of sanctions towards the Cuban state strengthens our belief and perception in Iran.”
The Cuban president additionally promised to go to Tehran this 12 months, saying the go to had been deliberate for a while however had been hampered by the coronavirus pandemic and different points.
The two international locations signed six agreements, together with a roadmap for political cooperation.
Iranian Health Minister Bahram Einolahi mentioned the go to was “one of many biggest achievements of the sacred institution of the Islamic Republic of Iran within the area of well being,” as Iran and the three international locations agreed to determine a joint well being cooperation working group. ”, he mentioned.
He mentioned Iran, which claims to supply nearly all of its mandatory medicines, exports medicines and medical gear to Venezuela and Nicaragua, whereas additionally aiming to strengthen college cooperation with all three international locations. Ta.
In Havana, Raisi and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian additionally met with former President Raul Castro.
Washington didn’t remark straight on Raisi’s go to. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby as a substitute reiterated that the United States is worried about Iran’s “destabilizing habits” and can proceed to take steps to mitigate it.