Uganda: Iran President Slams West over LGBTQ Rights
During a Wednesday visit to Uganda, which has recently enacted some of the world’s severe anti-gay laws, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi condemned Western attitudes toward homosexuality.
Raisi, on a mission to reinforce ties during the first visit by an Iranian leader to Africa in 11 years, criticized the West during a joint press conference with President Yoweri Museveni following their meeting.
Raisi stated, “The West is currently attempting to promote the concept of homosexuality, and by promoting homosexuality, they are attempting to eliminate the human race.”
On May 29, Museveni signed the measure into law, sparking outrage among human rights organizations, the United Nations, LGBTQ activists, and Western powers.
The new law makes “aggravated homosexuality” a capital offense and imposes prison terms of up to life for consensual same-sex relationships. Raisi stated at the press conference that the West “acts against the heritage and culture of nations.”
The Iranian leader also offered Museveni support for a significant project to construct a domestic oil refinery and pipeline, despite opposition from environmental groups, legal action in France, and criticism from the European Parliament.
Raisi stated that Tehran was willing to share its oil industry expertise, whereas the West was “generally not interested in seeing countries with abundant resources and national reserves become independent.”
Raisi is scheduled to travel to Zimbabwe on Thursday as the Islamic Republic seeks to bolster up diplomatic support to reduce its international isolation.
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Early Wednesday morning in Nairobi, he conferred with Kenyan President William Ruto, describing his visit to the East African powerhouse as “a turning point in the development of relations” between the two nations.
UBC revealed that he then flew to the Ugandan city of Entebbe, where he was greeted with a gun salute and military procession.
On Thursday, he is scheduled to meet with his Zimbabwean counterpart, Emmerson Mnangagwa. In recent months, Africa has become a diplomatic battleground, with Russia and the West vying for support in response to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, which has had a devastating impact on the continent and caused food prices to rise.
Along with India and China, which have been on an infrastructure spending binge in Africa, Western powers have sought to strengthen trade ties with the continent.
Raisi stated that his discussions with Ruto reflected “the determination and commitment of both nations to expand economic and trade cooperation, political cooperation, and cultural cooperation.”
Ruto referred to Iran as a “crucial strategic partner” and reported that the two countries had signed five memorandums of understanding covering information technology, investment, fisheries, and other areas.
“These memorandums will strengthen and expand our bilateral relations for sustainable growth and development,” he stated. Ruto told reporters that Raisi had also disclosed plans for Iran to establish a facility in the port city of Mombasa “to manufacture an Iranian vehicle with the Kiswahili name ‘Icifaru,’ which means rhinoceros.”
“Shared political beliefs” According to the official Iranian news agency IRNA, Raisi’s delegation comprises both the foreign minister and prominent businesspeople.
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Nasser Kanani, a spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry, expressed optimism that the trip would help strengthen economic and commercial connections with African nations.
Additionally, he stated on Monday that Tehran and the African continent share “common political views” without further explanation. Iran has intensified its diplomacy in recent months to reduce its isolation and mitigate the impact of crippling sanctions reimposed following the United States’ withdrawal from a painstakingly negotiated nuclear agreement in 2018.
Saturday, Raisi greeted Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf to strengthen relations with Algiers. Iran joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which includes Russia, China, and India, last week.
Under a deal mediated by China, Tehran resolved in March to restore ties with regional rival Saudi Arabia. Since then, it has sought to restore relations with other nations in the region, including Egypt and Morocco.
In June, Raisi toured Latin America, visiting Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba, before traveling to Indonesia.
Uganda: Iran President Slams West over LGBTQ Rights
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