Zimbabwe Seeks Closer Relations

Zimbabwean Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko voiced his country's willingness to expand wide-ranging relations with Iran. "We deem the expansion of mutual cooperation between Harare and Tehran as highly important," Mphoko said in a recent meeting with Iranian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Ahmad Erfanian, Fars News Agency reported. Erfanian said there are good grounds for fostering Tehran-Harare ties, as the two countries have signed tens of documents on cooperation over the past three decades. In mid-November, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Zimbabwean Deputy Foreign Minister Joey Bimha in a meeting in Tehran underlined the need to broaden mutual cooperation. During the meeting in Tehran, Zarif and Bimha explored avenues for reinvigorating bilateral ties in different areas. Tehran has striven to maximize relations with the African continent. Iran is an observing member of the African Union and has shown an active presence in previous AU summit meetings.