Iranian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Ahmad Erfanian underscored the importance of enhancing ties between Tehran and Harare, saying trade transactions between the two countries should increase. “We spoke about excellent relations between Zimbabwe and Iran,” Erfanian told reporters following a meeting with Zimbabwe’s Acting President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday, Herald reported.
“As you may be aware, relations between the two countries date back to before the time Zimbabwe got independence,” he added. The envoy stressed that ties between the two nations should lay the foundation for stronger bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
“Over the last three decades of cooperation, four Iranian presidents have visited Zimbabwe and President Robert Mugabe has also visited Iran four times,” he said.
Erfanian said the two sides should raise the volume of their trade to overcome sanctions imposed by the West. Relations between the two countries gained momentum when the late vice president, Simon Muzenda, visited Tehran to meet leaders of the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Zimbabwe opened its embassy in Tehran in 2003.
