Iran interested in boosting relations with Zimbabwe

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani Monday voiced pleasure in the existing bilateral relations between Iran and Zimbabwe, and asked officials of both countries to concentrate more on expanding mutual cooperation in all arenas. In a congratulatory message to his Zimbabwean counterpart Robert Mugabe on his reelection as the African country's president, Rouhani stressed the need for utilizing all capacities to bolster bilateral ties between Tehran and Harare. He wished success for President Mugabe during his new term of office. Tehran has always striven hard 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. The country is considered as one of the AU's strategic partners along with India, Japan, China, several South American states and Turkey, while Tehran is also believed to be prioritizing promotion of its economic and political ties with the African states.