‘Iran intent on expanding Africa ties’

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says Iran attaches major significance to the expansion of ties with all African nations.

Addressing a group of Iranian ambassadors to African countries on Sunday, Amir-Abdollahian underlined the status of the Islamic Republic in the strategic continent and in Muslim states in particular, describing the role of Iranian envoys in the region as crucial.

He also emphasized that the promotion of ties with African states is a major priority for Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, adding that the president has agreed to provide African nations with essential resources to facilitate their development and progress.

The official called on the Iranian ambassadors to speed up the implementation of ongoing Iranian cultural, economic and commercial projects based in Africa.

The Islamic Awakening and its impact on the continent as well as Iran’s relations with African states during the past three decades were the main focuses of the meeting.

Earlier in June, in a meeting with former Malian President Alpha Oumar Konare, President Ahmadinejad expressed Tehran’s readiness to launch a joint fund with Africa.