NAIROBI, Kenya — Iran’s president has begun a uncommon go to to Africa as his nation, which is below heavy U.S. financial sanctions, seeks to deepen different partnerships all over the world.
President Ebrahim Raisi’s visits to Kenya and Uganda on Wednesday characterize the primary to the African continent by an Iranian chief in additional than a decade. He can be visiting Zimbabwe.
Africa is a “continent of opportunities” and an ideal platform for Iranian merchandise, Raisi instructed journalists in Kenya. He didn’t take questions. “None of us is satisfied with the current volume of trade,” he mentioned.
Iran‘s leader specifically mentioned Africa’s mineral assets and Iran‘s petrochemical expertise, however the 5 memoranda of understanding signed on Wednesday by the Islamic Republic and Kenya appeared to not handle both one. Instead, they addressed data, communication and expertise; fisheries; animal well being and livestock manufacturing and funding promotion.
Kenyan President William Ruto referred to as Iran a “critical strategic partner” and “global innovation powerhouse.” Tea accounts for the majority of Kenya’s exports to Iran, however Ruto expressed curiosity in increasing the vary of agricultural exports.
Iran intends to arrange a producing plant for Iranian autos in Kenya’s port metropolis of Mombasa, Ruto added.
PHOTOS: Iran’s president begins a uncommon go to to Africa ‘to advertise financial diplomacy’
Raisi’s Africa go to is supposed to “promote economic diplomacy, strengthen political relations with friendly and aligned countries, and diversify the export destinations,” Iran’s overseas ministry mentioned in an announcement upon his arrival.
Last month, Iran’s chief made his first go to to Latin America, stopping in Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua.
In March, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to re-establish diplomatic ties in a serious diplomatic breakthrough.
Iran is in a rising standoff with Western nations over its nuclear program, which has made main advances within the 5 years since then-U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew his nation from a global settlement that restricted it. Trump additionally restored sanctions on Iran which have contributed to a extreme financial disaster.
The U.S. final month accused Iran of offering Russia with supplies to construct a drone manufacturing plant as Moscow seeks weaponry for its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Iran has mentioned it offered drones to Russia earlier than the beginning of the battle however not since.
Kenya is East Africa’s financial hub and an ally of the U.S., with President Joe Biden’s spouse, Jill, visiting the nation early this yr. Last yr, the U.S. and Kenya signed a memorandum of understanding on “strategic civil nuclear cooperation.” Kenya has expressed curiosity in utilizing nuclear energy for vitality manufacturing.
Under Ruto, Kenya is combating debt and rising value of residing, with extra lethal protests on Wednesday within the capital, Nairobi, and elsewhere.
Raisi later Wednesday met with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.
Museveni, a U.S. ally on safety issues, has beforehand voiced help for Iran’s controversial nuclear program. During a 2010 go to by former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Museveni asserted that each one sovereign nations had a proper to pursue peaceable nuclear applications whilst he urged the eradication of all nuclear arsenals.
Uganda is making an attempt to arrange a nuclear energy plant that authorities this yr mentioned can be producing electrical energy by 2031. The plant, which is being developed with the technical help of the China National Nuclear Corporation, would exploit the East African nation’s substantial deposits of uranium.
Like Iran, Zimbabwe is below U.S. sanctions. A ministerial delegation from Zimbabwe visited Tehran early this yr and agreed to deepen cooperation in areas together with petroleum commerce.
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Associated Press writers Rodney Muhumuza in Kampala, Uganda, and Farai Mutsaka in Harare, Zimbabwe, contributed to this report.
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