Iran Announces New Chapter in Cuba Ties

Zarif and Cuba’s Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla met in Havana on Monday night and discussed a range of issues.

The top Iranian diplomat, who is heading a 120-strong delegation of businessmen and government’s economic officials, said Iran now starts new relations with Cuba in the presence of a big group of private sector representatives, unveiling plans for collaboration in the technology field, biotechnology sciences and pharmaceutical industry.

He further hailed Iran and Cuba as two nations with the same attitudes towards foreign interference, saying they have both proved it to the US that it could not carry out its policies with the use of force, pressure or sanctions.

For his part, the top Cuban diplomat said he saw a bright prospect for mutual cooperation given the two countries’ capabilities and economic potential.

Zarif travelled to Cuba on Sunday as the first leg of a six-nation tour of Latin America. He left Havana late on Monday and is now in Nicaragua’s capital of Managua.

He will visit Ecuador, Chile, Bolivia, and Venezuela afterwards.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has announced that the tour of Latin America signifies Tehran’s plans to boost non-oil exports.