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Niger denies Western reports about uranium talks with Iran

Niger denies Western reports about uranium talks with Iran

Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufou says his country and the Islamic Republic have not held any talks regarding uranium trade, dismissing certain Western media reports about the issue.

In a joint press conference with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday, following the signing of cooperation agreements by Niger and the Islamic Republic, Issoufou flatly rejected media reports that the two countries had discussed uranium trade, emphasizing that Iran has uranium mines of its own and is considered a uranium producer.

President Issoufou further stressed that Iran is a developed country with plenty of expertise and experiences in the fields of geology and mines and both countries are determined to cooperate in these fields.

The Nigerien president also said that his country and Iran share common positions with regards to important international and regional developments, adding, “Niger, like Iran, believes that all nations should collaborate and cooperate for the establishment of peace, friendship and security across the globe.”

During the press conference, President Ahmadinejad further expressed Iran’s willingness to share its expertise in the fields of agriculture, technology and engineering with the Nigerien people, reiterating that “the Islamic Republic of Iran sees no limits in the expansion of ties with its brother nation Niger.”

The Iranian president said that, during his state visit to the West African country, “major steps” were taken toward the expansion of bilateral ties, including in the field of oil exploration, and that the two nations hold common positions with respect to regional and international issues.

“We consider Niger’s advancement as that of Iran’s and both of us desire peace and progress for all nations,” Ahmadinejad noted.

The Iranian chief executive then reiterated that, “Domineering powers seek to plunder the wealth of nations and want the entire resources of the world for their own. They regard themselves as the owners of the world and consider no rights for the nations… but despite their wishes, we are determined to move toward comprehensive development.”

Leading a high-ranking delegation, President Ahmadinejad left Tehran on April 14 for a three-day tour of Africa. He visited the West African Republic of Benin before arriving in Niger. Ahmadinejad arrived in Ghana for the third and final leg of his tour on Wednesday.

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