In a meeting with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel in Havana on Tuesday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said Tehran’s policy entails the expansion of relations with countries that have stood against the US, no matter how far they are.

With the US’ unilateral measures having targeted all countries in the current conditions, nations must counter the US to protect their independence and freedom, the Iranian speaker said.

Qalibaf stressed that Iran, Cuba and other countries that have been subjected to American cruelty need to join hands.

He also called for closer cooperation between Iran and Cuba in regional and international affairs as well as economic, political, security and defense spheres.

Qalibaf stated that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the BRICS, the Eurasian Economic Union, and the D8 cover around half of the world population combined and make up 39 percent of the global economy.

The first priority in cooperation between Iran and Cuba should be the economic issues, he added, calling for efforts to implement a comprehensive agreement the two countries signed in 2023.