As Tehran looks to lessen its isolation by strengthening connections with African nations, Iran said on Wednesday that it is willing to assist coup-hit Niger in overcoming international sanctions.
In a meeting with Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine of Niger, Iran’s first vice president, Mohammad Mokhber, declared that his nation opposes “the cruel sanctions which are imposed by the domination system”.
“We will definitely share the experiences we have in this field with our brothers” from Niger, he added.
Iran has been slammed with heavy international sanctions since the Islamic revolution in 1979 but has found ways to circumvent some of them.
Since Washington withdrew from a historic nuclear agreement in 2018, which provided Iran sanctions relief in exchange for limiting its nuclear activity, Tehran has also been subject to devastating US sanctions.
The Economic Community of West African States imposed severe financial and economic sanctions on Niger in July 2023 following the military takeover that deposed elected president Mohamed Bazoum.
Mokhber celebrated “the success” of the former French colony during this coup by “having established an independent government” during the conference.
“Niger intends to breathe new life into cooperation, which was dormant, with the Islamic republic,” Zeine said.
Both nations inked a number of agreements in a range of sectors, including banking, energy, and health.
Iran has declared its support for the leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger who took over in coups in recent months.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in September praised “the resistance of these African countries” in the face of “hegemonic European policies and colonialism”.
Like Turkey and Russia, Iran is eager to expand its influence in Africa, where it has been forging closer relationships in an attempt to lessen the effects of sanctions and lessen isolation.
In 2023, Raisi visited Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Uganda.
Zeine traveled to Moscow prior to Tehran, where it was decided to “intensify” military assistance with the Niger army in its fight against Islamist groups.
