Iran has promised to support Zimbabwe against ”a few bully nations”, Harare’s Herald newspaper reported on Wednesday.
Its website quoted Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as saying: ”We are going to stand side-by-side with the government and people of Zimbabwe. We condemn the efforts and pressure put on Zimbabwe by a few bully nations.”
Ahmadinejad said Iran did not recognise the current economic sanctions against Zimbabwe imposed by Western countries.
”We believe Zimbabweans have every right to defend their sovereignty and land.”
Ahmadinejad was speaking after he and visiting President Robert Mugabe witnessed the signing of a number of agreements by ministers from the two countries in central Teheran.
Iran was confident Zimbabwe would overcome the challenges it was facing and revive its economy, said Ahmadinejad.
Mugabe said Zimbabwe would benefit more from the agreements as Iran was more developed in terms of technology, which placed it in a better position to help Harare.
”The fact that so many documents have been signed which express the number of areas of co-operation on which agreements have been reached is in itself a perspective of the strengthening of relations between Zimbabwe and Iran.”
Iran and Zimbabwe have been labelled ”outposts of tyranny” by United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
But Mugabe — who proudly describes Iran as a great friend — dismissed the accusation, saying that ”only God can judge”.
”Some people who regard themselves as demigods say we belong to the axis of evil. Who are they to judge us?” Mugabe asked on Monday. – Sapa