Iranian Foreign Minister Kicks off Latin America Tour in Cuba

Foreign Minister of Iran Mohammad Javad Zarif met with his counterpart Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez on Monday in Havana to celebrate the 90th birthday of revolutionary leader Fidel Castro and to strengthen and expand ties between the two countries.

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Zarif emphasized that Cuba is key to the development and expansion of ties with Latin America and expressed Iran’s hope of strengthening energy and industrial areas.

"We are going to forge a new path in our bilateral relations with Cuba," he said, adding that cooperation in many sectors such as technology were also welcomed.

During the meeting, Rodriguez stressed the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation in economic, academic, cultural and commercial matters.

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Zarif commented, "We have always been on the side of the great Cuban people in the face of the atrocities and unjust sanctions they have faced, and vice versa," he said, referring to the ongoing U.S. blockade on Cuba and U.S. sanctions imposed on Iran after its revolution in 1979.

Zarif thanked Cuba for its support in its recent struggle against U.S.-led sanctions on his country.

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For his part, Rodriguez congratulated Iran on the "success of its foreign policy" while reiterating its longstanding support for "all countries to develop nuclear energy for pacific ends."

Zarif praised Cuba's "resistance" to the U.S., with which Cuba established diplomatic relations just a year ago after more than 50 years, while Iran has not had formal diplomatic relations with the U.S. since 1980.

The Islamic Revolution that overthrew Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi – better known as the Shah of Iran – on February 11, 1979, brought sanctions by the U.S., which supported the right-wing regime that allowed Western multinationals to rule over the country’s oil.

That same year the U.S. froze Iranian assets and gold reserves in its banks in response to the seizure of the U.S. embassy in Tehran and the holding of hostages by Iranian students, establishing a blockade on Iran that penalized foreign countries who did business with the country.

Zarif’s Latin America tour includes a group of 120 businessmen and economic leaders and will head to Nicaragua next, followed by visits to Ecuador, Chile, Bolivia, and Venezuela.

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