IRANIAN President Ebrahim Raisi’s upcoming trip to Africa has been delayed until Wednesday morning to allow for finalization of key memoranda of understanding that are vital for strengthening relations with African nations.
The rare visit will include a diplomatic trip to Kenya, Uganda, and Zimbabwe described by Iran as a “continent of opportunities.”
The three-day trip marks the Islamic Republic’s latest diplomatic effort to forge new alliances and ease international isolation.
This will be the first time an Iranian President will visit Africa in 11 years.
Raisi was supposed to hold a press conference with Kenyan President William Ruto on Tuesday morning before the trip got canceled.
A Ugandan official confirmed that Raisi’s scheduled trip to the East African country will proceed as scheduled on Wednesday.
Boosting economic and trade ties with the three African nations is high on the agenda.
Iran has stepped up its diplomacy in recent months to reduce the impact of crippling sanctions re-imposed by the United States in 2018.
In March, Tehran agreed to restore ties with Riyadh in a deal brokered by China.
This was followed by a trip to Latin America which include a tour that included Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba in June before dropping off to Indonesia.
The visit took place a week after Iran became an official and ninth member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which includes Russia, China, and India.
