Zambia on Wednesday called on the African Union to oppose any effort to bring United Nations sanctions against Iran because of its controversial nuclear programme, saying these would hurt regional economies.
The head of Zambia’s National Economic Advisory Council, Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika, urged African states and non-oil-producing countries to lobby against the threatened sanctions.
African countries, he said, have a political stake in dampening escalating pressure against Iran that would negatively impact on their economies.
”The AU should recognise it has a strong stake and should mobilise itself through the UN system and avert threats to the oil market,” Mbikusita-Lewanika said.
Sanctions against Iran would affect oil supply, escalate food and oil prices, and raise production costs of goods and services in the fragile African economies.
”We have to make everyone understand that these moves by the United States and Western countries are not in our interests.”
Iran last week announced it was resuming nuclear research, prompting the possibility that the country might have sanctions levied against it by the UN Security Council. — Sapa-dpa