IRANIAN President Ebrahim Raisi concluded his three-nation Latin American tour on Thursday, meeting with Cuban counterpart Miguel Diaz-Canel.
The visit aimed to strengthen ties with Latin American allies facing similar challenges due to US sanctions.
Raisi highlighted the commonalities between Iran and Cuba and expressed the desire to collaborate in various sectors, including electricity generation, biotechnology, and mining.
The officials signed administrative agreements to enhance cooperation in justice, customs, and telecommunications.
Earlier, Raisi visited Venezuela and Nicaragua, where he pledged to bolster bilateral trade and expand cooperation in petrochemicals.
Cuban President Diaz-Canel acknowledged the resilience of countries like Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba, and Iran in the face of sanctions, blockades, and interference from external powers.
He described Iran as a friendly nation in the Middle East and emphasized the importance of dialogue on complex global issues.
The White House, in response, stated that countries have the freedom to decide their associations and engagements while focusing on their own national security interests.
The visit coincided with Cuba’s efforts to strengthen relations with distant yet crucial allies such as Russia and China, both of which face US sanctions. Diaz-Canel had previously met with the presidents of Russia and China, securing deals to alleviate the country’s debt burden and receive aid following the destructive Hurricane Ian.
Cuba has been under a comprehensive US trade embargo since the 1959 revolution led by Fidel Castro.
The embargo, intensified under former US President Donald Trump, has contributed to a severe economic crisis in Cuba, resulting in shortages of food, fuel, and medicine.
Raisi characterized his visit to key Latin American allies as a “turning point” in relations, emphasizing the significance of the trip for both Iran and its Latin American partners.
