Iran FM heads to Cuba after concluding Venezuela state visit

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
4 Feb 2023 20:11

The Iranian diplomat had concluded a trip to Caracas where he met with Venezuelan President Nicola Maduro and discussed a number of bilateral issues, including increasing joint cooperation in the energy sector.

A man walks under Cuban flags flying over a street in Havana, Cuba, Monday, July 26, 2021 (AP Photo/Eliana Aponte)

After concluding an official state visit to Venezuela, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian departed moments ago to Cuba's capital city, Havana.

The Iranian diplomat had concluded a trip to Caracas where he met with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and discussed a number of bilateral issues, including increasing joint cooperation in the energy sector.

They also discussed the necessity of increasing the protection of national interests against foreign powers via increased consultations between the two nations.

Amir-Abdollahian further stressed the urgent necessity for the deals concluded in 2022 between the two countries to enter into force this year.

He also held talks with Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez and the country’s ministers of foreign affairs and petroleum.

Before his visit to Caracas, the Iranian diplomat had completed a state visit to Nicaragua where he held talks with high-ranking officials on various issues and joint development programs.

Amir-Abdollahian was in Mauritania for an official visit on Tuesday where he met with the country's President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani and discussed strategic plans to ward off terrorism and ways to improve security in West Asia, Africa, and the rest of the world.

Cuba has been under US sanctions for more than 60 years, which left the country struggling to provide its citizens with many of their needs, as the American maximum pressure campaign included many of the country's key sectors including energy.

In October of last year, following illegal sanctions imposed by the US on multiple Iranian individuals, companies, and entities under the pretext of defending human rights, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla asserted his country's position against the anti-Iranian sanctions in support of recent riots.

Parilla tweeted then that, "Cuba opposes the imposition of unilateral US sanctions against Iran and attempts to subvert the internal order of this nation," adding that the country rejects "interference in the internal affairs of other States and the manipulation of human rights for political ends."

Likewise, in November 2022, Parrilla slammed US sanctions on Iran and dubbed them a violation of "international law and constitute."

"We reject the new sanctions illegally imposed by the US against Iran, which violate International Law and constitute," said the Foreign Minister on Twitter, noting that the American measures are interference in Iran's internal affairs.