Iran, Senegal resume bilateral relations

Iran and Senegal have resumed their diplomatic relations following a decision by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Senegalese counterpart Macky Sall.

Foreign Ministers of Iran and Senegal Ali Akbar Salehi and Monsieur Mankeur Ndiaye signed a statement on the resumption of political ties between Tehran and Dakar on the sidelines of the 12th summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, on Wednesday.

According to the statement, the Iranian and Senegalese presidents held talks about the ties between the two countries on the sidelines of the 12th OIC summit.

Following the talks between Ahmadinejad and Sall, the two sides expressed their willingness to resume their amicable ties and cooperation based on mutual trust and respect for regulations regarding relationships between countries.

Both presidents agreed to resume diplomatic ties between their respective countries and reopen the embassies in Tehran and Dakar as of February 6, 2013.

Senegal had severed its ties with Iran in February 2011.