Iran, Algeria agree to strengthen bilateral ties

News Desk - The Cradle 

The presidents of the two nations met to discuss expanding economic and political relations

Algeria and Iran agreed to take further steps to strengthen economic relationships between the two nations during Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi’s official visit to Algiers on 3 March.  

Tasnim reported that both the Algerian and Iranian heads of state voiced satisfaction with the talks and the results made during Raisi’s official visit to Algeria. Both nations agreed to further strengthen existing ties.  

“The presidents of the two countries, while reviewing the state of relations between the two countries in various political and economic fields, discussed ways to strengthen it as much as possible to realize the interests of the two countries and two brotherly nations, in the framework of the common political will to strengthen brotherly relations and solidarity,” read the joint statement by Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and his Iranian counterpart.

Both sides inked several agreements to promote bilateral economic relations across energy, startups, science and technology, tourism, media, sports, and strategic studies.

The two nations also agreed on the need to integrate communications between the public and private sectors to explore further investment opportunities in fields such as oil and gas, new technologies, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, transit, customs, and tourism.

Raisi praised Algeria’s role in fighting against imperialism and hegemony, saying “The regional policy of Algeria is aimed at elevating the peace and security of the region and we see this policy in a positive light.” 

Iran and Algeria emphasized the need to increase efforts to establish security and peace in West Asia and adopt peaceful solutions to combat the problems the region faces.  

The also touched on the situation in Palestine. 

Both nations have been vocal about their support for Palestine far before the outbreak of war on 7 October 2023.

“The two sides take a decisive, supportive, and unconditional position in supporting the Palestinian issue and supporting it in international forums to realize the inalienable rights of the Palestinian nation, including the right to self-determination and the formation of an independent state with its own capital,” the statement read.  

Algeria and Iran condemned the actions taken by the Israeli army against the Palestinian people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, emphasizing support for the Palestinian nation.

The two called the rising numbers of civilian deaths “a stain in the history of contemporary human civilization” and demanded that the international community deliver the necessary aid to the Gazans.  

They also demanded the continuation of effective diplomatic efforts in gaining support to hold Israel accountable for its “heinous, illegitimate and anti-human actions" against the Palestinian people, and to pressure the international community in imposing political and economic santions on Israel.