Iran’s president makes first Africa visit in decade, seeks more trade

Iran is ramping diplomatic incursions in Africa as it steps up effort to raise its international trade fortunes.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi arrived Nairobi, Kenya, on Wednesday in his first trip to Africa more than a decade since his predecessor visited the continent.

Mr Raisi was welcomed by his counterparts in Kenya and Uganda on Wednesday in launching the three-country tour of Africa that Tehran has touted as a “new beginning” in relations with the continent. He is also expected to visit Zimbabwe.

– New partnership

The Iraian leader’s trip is seen as a bid to diversify Iran’s trade relations in the face of crippling U.S. sanctions.

In 2018, then-U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from Tehran’s nuclear accord with world powers in 2018 and reimposed biting sanctions that has stung the country’s economy over the years.

During the visit Kenyan, Iranian minister signed five memorandums of understanding on Wednesday related to information technology, fisheries, livestock products and investment promotion.

– More trade

Mr Raisi said he wanted to boost commercial ties with African countries in a briefing after meeting with Ruto as quoted by Reuters. Iran’s foreign ministry had said it expects trade with African countries to increase to more than $2 billion I 2023 according to the report.

“None of us are satisfied with the current volume of trade and the current economic exchange between countries,” he said.

Mr Ruto said he had sought Mr Raisi’s commitment to facilitate the export of more Kenyan tea, meat and other agricultural products to Iran and via Iran to Central Asian countries.

The Iranian leader also signed four agreements with Ugadan President Yoweri Museveni and said Iran stood ready to share its experience regarding a planned 60,000-barrel-per-day oil refinery.