Iran ‘fully ready’ to help Zimbabwe in its fight against terrorism: Defense minister
Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh says the Islamic Republic is fully ready to provide strategic assistance to Zimbabwe in its fight against terrorism.
“Terrorism and its spillover from various regions to the south of the African continent are among the most important threats and concerns of the governments in this region,” Nasirzadeh said in a meeting with Zimbabwe’s Minister of Defense and War Veterans Affairs Oppah Muchinguri in Tehran on Monday.
He added that Africa has always had a special status in Iran’s foreign policy after the victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution given Tehran’s support for independent and revolutionary states and the African countries’ efforts to achieve independence from the arrogant system.
He noted that historical ties between Iran and Zimbabwe have always been based on friendship and mutual respect, saying the two countries have expanded relations in the past years.
The Iranian defense chief expressed confidence that a planned visit by Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa to Tehran would lead to further consolidation of mutual relations.
He welcomed the expansion of defense cooperation and exchange of technical delegations between the two countries which would increase Zimbabwe’s deterrent power in the face of security threats.
Pointing to very important political-security developments in Africa, particularly in its southern parts, Nasirzadeh expressed Iran’s readiness to cooperate and support independent countries to secure national interests in accordance with their identity and culture.
Iran can also help African countries achieve common benefits that will be beneficial to for independent nations, he added.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Iranian defense minister said nearly 50,000 people of Palestine, particularly children, have been brutally killed by the Israeli regime, backed by the US and Western countries amid silence of international forums.
“Today, the Zionist regime (Israel) has turned into a symbol of state terrorism in the world,” Nasirzadeh added.
Zimbabwe keen to use Iran’s experience: Mnangagwa
The Zimbabwe’s defense minister, for her part, said a new chapter opened in ties between the two countries after the Islamic Revolution.
Mnangagwa added that her country seeks to deepen ties with Iran in defense, international, education, health, mining, agriculture, and other important global issues.
She said Harara is keen to make use of Tehran’s experience in various fields of education to be able to update and boost its defense power.
