Iran, Cuba sign multiple cooperation agreements
4 Min Read
Cuban Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade announced that the two countries are determined to work quickly to implement measures aimed at strengthening the presence of Iranian businesses in Cuba.
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Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, left, and Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, applaud during a state visit, in Havana, Cuba, Thursday, June 15, 2023 (AP Photo/Ismael Francisco)
During his visit to Havana, Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi signed 6 agreements with his Cuban counterpart Miguel Diaz-Canel in an effort to strengthen Iranian-Cuban cooperation in different fields.
The signed agreements include comprehensive cooperation in foreign relations and political consultations, agreements in the field of customs, the exchange of information, and the development of cadres, in addition to the field of communications and technology, and an agreement between the ministries of justice of the two countries.
#BREAKING | #Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi reveals the decision to work with #Cuba in the fields of "science and technology" as well as other domains.#Iran pic.twitter.com/2QFhZyBywG
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) June 15, 2023
Cuba was Raisi's third stop in his Latin America tour following Nicaragua and Venezuela. The two presidents met at the Plaza de la Revolución, after an official reception for the president in the courtyard of the palace, where the Iranian and Cuban national anthems were played.
Read more: Exclusive - Cuba, Iran brought together through revolutionary identity
El presidente de Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, sostuvo un encuentro hoy su por iraní, Seyed Ebrahim Raisi, quien realiza una visita oficial a la nación caribeña.#Raisi #Iran #Cuba #DiazCanel pic.twitter.com/qIjn1HynlY
— Al Mayadeen Español (@almayadeen_es) June 15, 2023
In the context of the visit, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian tweeted saying that the "cooperation consultations" between the two presidents "are in the fields of biotechnology, technology, medicine, and energy," noting that Iran and Cuba are "pioneers in the field of promoting regional rapprochement."
کوبا آخرین مقصد ازسفر منطقه‌ای دکتررئیسی به آمریکای لاتین است.
— H.Amirabdollahian امیرعبداللهیان (@Amirabdolahian) June 15, 2023
🇮🇷و🇨🇺از پیشگامان توسعه همگرایی منطقه‌ای هستند که می‌توانند فرصت حضور یکدیگر در ائتلاف‌های شکل‌گرفته در دو سوی کره‌زمین را فراهم سازند.
تمرکز همکاری در حوزه‌های بیوتکنولوژی، فنی، پزشکی و انرژی است. pic.twitter.com/J7g9DXe9DE
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel asserted to his Iranian counterpart, Ebrahim Raisi, his intentions to visit Tehran before the end of this year.
The Cuban President said Iran and Cuba are living under similar circumstances created by Western unilateral sanctions, adding that strengthening relations between Havana and Tehran would help in facing the sanctions imposed on the two countries.
Similarly, the Deputy Minister of Economic Diplomacy in the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mahdi Safari, confirmed that both countries have a lot of potential for cooperation that must be identified to be developed later, pointing to his country's readiness to work with the largest of the Antilles in various projects and offer its expertise, especially in the field of technology.
On the Cuban side, the Cuban Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade, Ana Teresita Fraga, announced that the two countries are determined to work quickly to implement measures aimed at strengthening the presence of Iranian businesses in the Caribbean country and promoting joint business projects, describing this as a "qualitative shift in relations."
📸| El presidente de la República de #Cuba, @DiazCanelB, recibe en el Palacio de la Revolución al presidente de la República Islámica de #Irán, Excmo. Dr. Ayatollah Seyed Ebrahim Raisi, quien realiza una visita oficial a nuestro país.
— Cancillería de Cuba (@CubaMINREX) June 15, 2023
🇨🇺🤝🇮🇷 pic.twitter.com/M98tGUpDw3
"The conditions for joint work have been established, and we hope that the frameworks would be flexible and attractive to businessmen who decide to work in Cuba," said Fraga.
She also confirmed the Island's interest in advancing innovative and mutually beneficial policies for the economic and social development of both the Cuban and Iranian people.
Before visiting the Plaza de la Revolución to meet with President Diaz-Canel, Raisi attended a meeting between Iranian and Cuban businessmen at the "Nacional" Hotel and also visited the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in Cuba.
Read more: President Raisi arrives in Cuba; last stop in Latin America tour
Earlier this week, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi left Iran to embark on a tour of three Latin American countries - Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba.
During a short interview on Monday ahead of his five-day tour, Raisi said that his country's relations with those nations have been consistently friendly, especially taking into consideration the common views with Tehran on international issues.
"Our common position with these three countries is opposition to the [world’s] hegemonic system and unilateralism," the president said, adding that Iran cooperates with those countries in numerous areas.
“Export of technical and engineering manpower is among our important cooperation areas," he said, adding that they also "cooperate with Latin American countries in the fields of politics, energy, science and technology, medicine, and economy."
According to Raisi, he is visiting after an invitation from the presidents of the three countries, stressing that this visit is a pivotal point in developing Tehran’s ties with them. Additionally, the president highlighted the opportunities present in Iran and the three countries that can expand and broaden their "strategic relations."
Alongside Raisi was a high-ranking delegation consisting of ministers of foreign affairs, oil, defense, and health while cooperation agreements and memorandums of understanding are due to be signed on the trip.
Read more: US fails to safeguard its 'backyard' from Iranian influence: Rep.
