Iran, Senegal plan to reopen embassies

The Iranian deputy foreign minister for Arab and African affairs says Iran and Senegal are set to reopen embassies in each other’s countries following the resumption of bilateral relations.

“Our country is in the process of sending an ambassador to Dakar,” said Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in a Saturday interview.

He expressed optimism that Dakar would also reopen its embassy in Tehran and appoint an ambassador soon.

“The consultations on resuming the ties between the two countries have been ongoing since the new Senegalese President Macky Sall took office,” Amir-Abdollahian pointed out.

The Iranian diplomat hailed the resumption of relations as “a significant development in Iran’s relations with a key West African country,” noting that the issue has been widely reflected and welcomed in the Senegalese media.

Following the meeting of the Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Sall on the sidelines of the 12th summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, on February 6, the two presidents announced the resumption of bilateral ties, which had been severed in 2011, and the reopening of the two countries’ embassies.