Iranian, South African Deputy Ministers Discuss Bilateral Ties
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian and visiting South African Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Nomaindia Mfeketo held talks on ways to boost relations between Tehran and Pretoria.
During the meeting held in Tehran on Saturday, Mfeketo praised measures taken by the two countries’ joint political commissions and reciprocal visits by the Iranian and South African officials over the past two years, saying that the measures have paved the way for the expansion of bilateral relations.
She further commended Iran’s stance on various international and regional issues, including the ongoing crises in Syria and Yemen, saying that her country supports the Islamic Republic’s stances.
Amir Abdollahian, for his part, described Tehran-Pretoria ties as growing and expressed the hope that the important visit to Iran by South African President Jacob Zuma later today would yield good results in line with the two countries’ interests.
Earlier on Saturday, Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said the country plans to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with South Africa on Sunday to boost cooperation in various energy fields.
The Iranian minister further said Iran supplied 40 percent of South Africa’s crude oil imports before the imposition of sanctions against Tehran, adding that the two countries are trying to resume the imports which were halted in the sanctions-era.
All of the nuclear-related sanctions were terminated after Tehran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) reached a nuclear deal on July 14, 2015 and started implementing it on January 16.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has repeatedly stressed his government’s interest in boosting relations with African states.
