Tunisia and Iran Express Convergence of Positions on Regional Issues and Willingness to Boost Bilateral Cooperation
The Tunisian and Iranian governments have expressed their convergence of positions on regional issues and their willingness to boost bilateral cooperation in several areas, including trade, tourism, agriculture, culture, and more.
Joint Declaration
This was stated in a joint declaration by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Mohamed Ali Nafti and his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, who is on a two-day visit to Tunis. The declaration was made at the end of an extended meeting between the delegations of the two countries, held at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tunis.
Mohamed Ali Nafti highlighted the "solidity" of bilateral relations between the two countries, stating that Tunisia has welcomed the resumption of cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as this will "help reduce tensions in the region and open up new avenues for containing crises and consecrating dialogue and diplomacy as the ideal way to find solutions."
Solidarity with Iran
The Minister reiterated Tunisia's solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Iran in the face of any threat to it or to the Arab-Muslim region. The situation in the Middle East was at the heart of the discussions between the two parties.
Palestinian Cause
"We discussed the importance of combining Arab-Muslim efforts to urge the international community to take the necessary steps to protect the Palestinian people in this specific context and to counter all attempts at deportation, as well as all measures aimed at liquidating the Palestinian cause," added Mr. Nafti, calling for an end to the hegemony of the "occupying entity" and its violations against Palestine and the entire region.
Iranian Minister's Statement
On this subject, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Iran and Tunisia share "concordant" positions. "The Palestinian cause, the genocide in Gaza, the crimes of the Zionist entity against all countries in the region, were among the main issues discussed during this visit," he indicated. "Both countries support the Palestinian cause and the legitimate right of the Palestinians. And we believe that to put an end to the crimes of the Zionist entity and to thwart its ambitions to deport the inhabitants of Gaza, we need mutual support between Islamic countries and to take concrete steps in this direction," he added.
Condemnation of Attack on Qatar
The Minister recalled his country's condemnation of the attack on Qatar (which occurred on Tuesday), deducing "that no country in the region is immune to Israeli aggression and threats."
Boosting Bilateral Cooperation
Regarding bilateral relations, the two ministers expressed their desire to boost them further. The head of Tunisian diplomacy stated that the extended meeting between the delegations of the two countries was an opportunity to review cooperation between Tunisia and Iran in all areas: economic, commercial, medical, agricultural, etc.
Activation of Cooperation Mechanisms
"We agreed to activate the various mechanisms that can strengthen bilateral cooperation in the aforementioned areas," he affirmed.
Iranian Minister's Statement on Bilateral Relations
For his part, Araghchi stated that "the relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Tunisia have always been good and solid, but they have evolved further in recent years. And our current visit has provided an opportunity for additional discussions, particularly during the extended meeting with the President of the Republic and the detailed talks with my counterpart. These discussions open up new horizons between the two countries."
Upcoming Joint Commission
In this regard, the Iranian Minister confirmed the existence of a willingness to strengthen bilateral relations, stating that the two parties have agreed to hold the next Tunisian-Iranian joint commission very soon in Iran.
