Tunisia voices support for Iran’s nuclear program

Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki has expressed support for Iran’s nuclear energy program and slammed the Western powers’ double standards with regard to the issue, Press TV reports.

At a Thursday meeting with Deputy Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Baqeri in the Tunisian capital city, Tunis, Marzouki also pointed to the close positions of Iran and Tunisia regarding many international developments.

The Tunisian president expressed strong opposition to any military intervention in Syria and called for immediate measures to stop the violence in the country.

Marzouki and Baqeri also discussed the existing channels for the further expansion of Iran-Tunisia relations.

The Iranian official, who was on a two-day trip to Tunisia, also held separate meetings with Interior Minister Ali Laarayedh and leader of Tunisia’s ruling al-Nahda party Sheikh Rached Ganouchi.

Before his departure from Tunis, Baqeri attended a press conference to elaborate on different regional and international issues.

The Iranian official pointed out that the democratic transformations across the Arab world have led to the solidarity of Muslims against Israel.

“The dictatorships in the Arab world used to prevent any help to the resistance in Palestine, but the revolutions and the Islamic Awakening have destroyed the barriers and people from the Arab and Muslim countries are now ready to work together in the interest of the Palestinian cause,” Baqeri said.

In response to a question about Israel’s military threats against Iran, Baqeri pointed to the recent victory of the people of Gaza against Israel’s aggression, adding, “When the Zionist regime (Israel) can’t stand the resistance in the blockaded Gaza Strip, it is clear that it will definitely have nothing to say when it comes to the power and strength of the Islamic Republic.”

Political analysts describe Bagheri’s visit to Tunisia as the sign of Tehran’s support for the people and the new government of the North African country in the wake of the Tunisian revolution in 2011.

“There are many reasons for the public support for Iran. It is among the few countries that has encouraged the resistance in Palestine and this is why Israel has lost the war on Gaza,” said Tunisian political analyst Kamel Ben Younes.

“Tunisians admire Iran, because it is ready to respond to Israeli military aggressions and the US aircraft,” he added.