Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi made the remarks in the meeting of high-ranking delegations of Iran and Cuba on Thursday.

The Iranian president proposed forming a joint commission on technological cooperation between the two countries for complementary cooperation in these fields.

Pointing out that relations between Iran and Cuba have changed since the victory of the Islamic Revolution, he said, “In the years since the victory of the Islamic Revolution, the relations between the two countries have always been developing, and especially in recent years and during the coronavirus pandemic, constructive cooperation has taken place.”

Stating that Iran and Cuba have important common grounds, including in fighting for independence, he said, “Iran is ready to cooperate with all countries, but if a country acts against the interests of our nation, we will stand against it.”

Raisi referred to the resistance of the Iranian nation against sanctions and extensive pressures, adding, “Iran considers relations with independent countries as one of the ways to tackle sanctions.”

Stating that his visit to Cuba, and the Cuban president’s visit to Tehran in the near future can be steps effective in developing relations between the two countries, the Iranian President said, “The activation of the Joint Commission of Economic Cooperation of the two countries can provide faster solutions for implementation of agreements.”

Raisi stressed that the US and bullying powers cannot do anything against independent nations, saying, “Our cooperation in the path towards progress can create hope in independent nations and despair in hegemons.”

Miguel Diaz-Canel, the president of Cuba, for his part, referred to Raeisi’s visit and said, “Your visit to Cuba is meaningful and the proof of existence of a set of common values and views between the two countries”.

“The three countries that you chose as destination for your regional trip have a meaningful relationship with the Iranian Revolution”, he continued, adding that, “I am confident that your visit to Cuba will be a turning point in the history of relations between the two countries.”

Meanwhile Iran and Cuba signed six agreements to expand economic, political and judicial cooperation between the two allied countries.

The memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed during President Raisi’s state visit to Cuba.

The MoUs were focused on judicial issues, political cooperation as well as on customs and information technology, according to a report by Iran’s official IRNA news agency.

Along with Raisi, Cuban president Miguel Díaz-Canel watched on as ministers and senior officials of Iran and Cuba signed the deals in the Palace of the Revolution in the Cuban capital Havana.

The agreements came less than a day after Raisi’s delegation signed three similar cooperation deals with officials in Nicaragua.

Those agreements were in the fields of judicial cooperation, trade and supply of medical equipment, said the IRNA.

Unconfirmed reports by Iranian media outlets suggested Iran had secured tens of billions worth of economic and trade deals during Raisi’s four-day tour of Latin America where he has visited Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba.

The tour was part of Iran’s efforts to diversify its trade partners and to join ranks with countries that have been targeted by foreign sanctions.

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President of CC Mr. Antonio Luis Carricarte Corona while being accompanied by Ambassador of Cuba to Tehran  Mr. Alberto Gonzalez Casals met with Vice-Chairman of ICCIMA Mr. Hossein Salahvarzi and in the meeting both sides exchanged views for increasing the current level of bilateral trade.

In the meeting Mr. Corona said that Iran and Cuba should provide grounds for joint commercial activities of their private sectors and chambers of commerce, adding that they can create a link between the private sectors and for boosting cooperation can define some projects in order that Iranian companies can have continuous contact.

He then pointed to the fields of cooperation between Iran and Cuba and said that first priorities and needs in the field of economic cooperation of both countries should be determined, for example, Iran in the field of agriculture and agro products is good or Cuba has high capacities in the field of tourism that these capacities should be noticed.

Corona further said that they can provide the grounds for the launch of a trade center in Cuba for increasing economic and trade connections, adding that they should work on those products that countries have potentials in them for deepening and broadening bilateral cooperation.

He also called for focusing on trilateral relation between Iran, Cuba and countries in the region of Iran and Cuba. He added that they can invest on those products that they are able to return the capital very fast.

Corona further said that Cuba’s tourism industry is growing very fast as so far this year over 3m tourists have entered Cuba and this market is on the growth. He said that this year companies have imported $300m of goods and services to meet the demands of tourists and Cuba can import some part of its needs in this field from Iran and they have started talks with an Iranian company.

He added that they are interested to open a trade department on Iran in the CC for bringing closer the traders of the two countries, noting that the chambers of commerce can rush to help at the time of dispute and problem.

He then said that Iran and Cuba can start projects which are able to grow more like chicken or dairy products plant that Cuba is good at them, reiterating that Cuba wants to become a hub in the region and there is good opportunity for cooperation in this field.

He expressed hope that ICCIMA and Iranian traders would partake in an exhibition in Cuba which will be held on November 9.

Then Salahvarzi, for his part, pointed to the good and strong political relation of Iran and Cuba, adding that despite this good relation, their economic relation is not satisfactory. He then pointed to great capacities and capabilities for economic cooperation between the two states, admitting the long distance between the two countries has created a serious problem for bilateral trade.

He then pointed to the capacities for broadening bilateral trade and called for more cooperation in the fields of foodstuff, medicines, mines, Nano technology and tourism.

Salahvarzi then pointed to the capacities of Iranian technical and engineering services companies and said that these companies have good experiences in the field of infrastructure and house construction in Latin America and Venezuela.

He then pointed to the sanctions that Cuba has been struggling with them and said that Iran and Cuba can find innovative way for trade and barter can be one of them.

Then Ambassador of Cuba to Tehran Mr. Casals said that the first challenge for Iran-Cuba economic relation is lack of cognizance of businessmen of the two countries and chambers of commerce of both countries can play a good role in helping businessmen to know both countries and Iran’s private sector can partake in an exhibition in Havana this year.

He said that Iran’s private sector has good experiences and Cuba needs cooperation in joint projects.

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As reported by the IMIDRO portal, Jafari made the remarks after a meeting with Cuba’s Minister of Energy and Mines Liván Arronte Cruz.

During this meeting, Jafari referred to the capacities of Iran’s mining and mineral industries in both production and export sectors, saying: “After the formation of a joint working group, studies conducted on the mining and mineral industries of the two sides will be reviewed.”

Later on, a group of Iranian experts will be dispatched to Cuba and based on the needs of the two countries, a memorandum of understanding will be signed and a roadmap for joint cooperation will be developed in accordance with the laws of the two countries, the IMIDRO head added.

Noting that Iran is pursuing a win-win policy in developing cooperation in the mining and mineral industries, the official said: “Iran can export technical-engineering services and technological knowledge in some mining industries to Cuba, and also help explore and extract minerals in this country.”

“Large companies in the Iranian steel industry also have the capacity to invest in Cuba. Our plan is to supply the minerals needed by our country through the investment in Cuba,” he said.

Cruz for his part, underlined his country’s significant mineral reserves including nickel, cobalt and iron ore and reiterated: “After exploring common areas of cooperation, a group of Iranian specialists and experts will travel to Cuba to review existing capacities and visit a nickel plant.”

He also expressed his country’s willingness to benefit from Iranian experiences and investment for renewing and modernizing Cuba’s cobalt mines.

The official also called on the Iranian side for the transfer of technical and engineering knowledge in the field of mineral extraction and production from the Islamic Republic to his country.

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