Rouhani urges expansion of Iran-Tunisia ties

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has called for expansion of Iran-Tunisia cooperation vis-à-vis regional and international issues, AVA Diplomatic reports.“Aside from their cooperation in the Muslim and international communities, Iran and Tunisia can also closely cooperate and consult on regional issues as well as issues of the Muslim world,” Rouhani said in a Monday meeting with Tunisia’s new Ambassador to Tehran Ghazi bin Saleh in which the Iranian president received the diplomat’s credentials.

Rouhani expressed satisfaction with the recent developments in Tunisia and the country’s role in North Africa.

As the birthplace of pro-democracy protests across North Africa and the Middle East, Tunisia has been undergoing a democratic changeover since the overthrow of its Western-backed dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in 2011.

The Tunisian constitution was approved on January 26, after receiving 200 of the 216 votes in the country’s National Constituent Assembly.

Rouhani pointed to the cultural commonalities of Iran and Tunisia and underscored the need to enhance the two countries’ economic and cultural ties and facilitate the development of tourism industry.

Bin Saleh, for his part, congratulated the Iranian nation on the 35th occasion of the country’s Islamic Revolution and noted that Tunisia shares the achievements of Iran’s revolution.

Bin Saleh also underlined the Tunisian government’s resolve to expand relations with Tehran in political, economic, cultural and social areas.