Envoy: South Africa Keen to Broaden Ties with Iran

South African Ambassador to Iran William Max Whitehead Wednesday hailed the existing relations between Iran and South Africa, and stressed the need for the further expansion of mutual cooperation in all fields, AVA Diplomatic reports.While visiting Amirabad Port in Northern Iran, Whitehead underlined Iran’s economic potentials, and said that Pretoria is interested in expansion of economic cooperation with Tehran in various fields, especially in economy and trade.

In mid-March, Iran and South Africa called for the further expansion of bilateral ties in all arenas between the two friendly states.

The issue was raised in a meeting between former Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi and Whitehead in Tehran at the time.

During the meeting, Salehi said that Iran and Africa have various capacities for broadening ties in all fields, especially in the commercial and economic sectors.

Salehi hoped that Tehran-Pretoria ties will further bolster during the new ambassador’s term.

Whitehead, for his part, said that South African government is willing to develop economic cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Referring to Iran’s status in the region, he voiced South African government’s interest in promoting cooperation in various areas with Iran.

In July 2012, South African President Jacob Zuma underlined his country’s willingness to further increase bilateral relations with Iran.

“We are willing to expand our relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran,” President Zuma said.

He made the remarks during a ceremony marking the induction of new ambassadors from Iran, China, Russia, Japan, Qatar, Thailand, Vatican and Chad in South Africa’s capital of Pretoria.

Iran’s new ambassador to South Africa Mohammad Faraji expressed the hope that friendly relations between Tehran and Pretoria would further expand.

Iran is also an observing member of the AU and has shown an active presence in previous AU summit meetings.

The country is considered as one of the AU’s strategic partners along with India, Japan, China, several South American states and Turkey, while Tehran is also believed to be prioritizing promotion of its economic and political ties with the African states.