Zim, Iran to strengthen relations

courtesy call on Vice President John Nkomo at his Munhumutapa Offices.
He said Iran will assist Zimbabwe in human resources management through scholarships.
He was accompanied by Iran’s Acting vice president for international affairs Mr Behzad Sheikh and Iran’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mohammad Pournajaf.
Speaking in an interview through Ambassador Pournajaf after the meeting, Dr Dehkurdi said Iran and Zimbabwe shared cordial relations.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran and Zimbabwe have profound relations and our meeting emphasised deepening of relations between the two countries and the implementation of various Memoranda of Understanding and agreed points,” he said.
Dr Dehkurdi pledged to assist Zimbabwe with human resources development through scholarships for locals to study in Iran.
He said Zimbabwe and Iran faced similar challenges, especially attacks by the West saying Zimbabweans had the capacity to develop their country.
“Iran and Zimbabwe have shown resistance to global arrogance and only indigenous knowledge should provide basis for Zimbabwe’s development,” he said.
Zimbabwe has been slapped with illegal sanctions by the West for embarking on land reform to correct colonial imbalances in land ownership.
The West imposed the sanctions under the guise of alleged human rights violations.
Iran has been slapped with UN sanctions at the instigation of the US, Britain and their allies over its nuclear programme.
The West claims Iran intends to develop nuclear weapons although various inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency have failed to substantiate these claims.
The US and EU have also imposed illegal sanctions on Iran.