Nicaraguan Parliament Backs Deals With Iran

The National Assembly of Nicaragua, controlled by the Sandinista rulers, has ratified agreements signed between Nicaragua and Iran.
These agreements include the creation of a Joint Intergovernmental Commission for economic and commercial cooperation, scientific and technical exchange, and collaboration in medicine, laboratory equipment and the judiciary, The Rio Times reported on Thursday.
According to Sandinista legislators, the purpose of these agreements is to strengthen friendship and cooperation for economic development and technical-scientific exchange.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, during his visit to Nicaragua, expressed the readiness to deepen cooperation in various areas, particularly in science and technology.
Nicaragua has maintained close relations with Iran since President Daniel Ortega returned to power in 2007.
Ortega has been a strong ally of Iran in Latin America, supporting its nuclear program and advocating for disarmament in Israel to prevent military conflicts.

Moving Toward Free Trade Agreement

The governments of Managua and Tehran signed several cooperation documents in economic, legal, scientific and technical spheres, as part of the official visit of Raisi to the Central American country in June.
One of the key points agreed upon was the exploration of a potential Free Trade Agreement.
In a meeting between Ortega and his Iranian counterpart, the governmental teams from both nations signed three foundational memorandums.
One of these included the establishment of an Intergovernmental Joint Commission for Economic, Commercial and Scientific Technical Cooperation.
In another memorandum, judicial matters were addressed, and a collaboration between the Supreme Court of Justice of the Republic of Iran and the Republic of Nicaragua was agreed upon.
The third memorandum related to cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector, specifically the exchange of medicines, equipment, and essential laboratory supplies between Iran’s Ministry of Health and Medical Education and Nicaragua’s Ministry of Health.
“All the topics we discussed were on the agenda in bilateral meetings, and as a result, we found your will, Iran’s will to move forward,” said Ortega.
In these meetings, discussions also commenced on the works toward signing a free trade agreement between Iran and Nicaragua.
The Iranian president spent two days in Nicaragua as part of his tour of three Latin American countries.
Before arriving in Nicaragua, Raisi visited Venezuela, where 25 cooperation and investment agreements were signed, encompassing oil and gas production and processing, mining, metallurgy, and the creation of a joint shipping company.
Raisi arrived in Cuba on June 14 to meet with various government representatives to strengthen ties.