Ebrahim Raisi stated the West was “acting against inheritance and culture of nations”.

Kampala, Uganda:

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Wednesday launched right into a condemnation of Western attitudes on homosexuality throughout a go to to Uganda which has simply launched among the harshest anti-gay legal guidelines on the earth.

Raisi, on a mission to strengthen ties with the primary journey by an Iranian chief to Africa in 11 years, referred to as out the West at a press convention with President Yoweri Museveni after talks with the veteran Ugandan chief.

“The West today is trying to promote the idea of homosexuality and by promoting homosexuality they are trying to end the generation of human beings,” Raisi introduced.

Museveni signed the invoice into regulation on May 29, triggering outrage amongst human rights teams, the United Nations and LGBTQ activists in addition to Western powers.

The new regulation makes “aggravated homosexuality” a capital offence and penalties for consensual same-sex relations of as much as life in jail.

Raisi informed the press convention the West was “acting against inheritance and culture of nations”.

The Iranian chief additionally provided Museveni assist for the main undertaking to construct a home oil refinery and pipeline that has been opposed by environmental teams and confronted authorized motion in France and criticism within the European Parliament.

Raisi stated Tehran was able to share its oil business expertise, whereas the West was “not generally interested to see countries who enjoy great resources and national reserves to be independent”.

The go to comes because the Islamic Republic tries to shore up diplomatic assist to ease its worldwide isolation, with Raisi resulting from journey to Zimbabwe on Thursday.

He had met Kenyan President William Ruto early Wednesday in Nairobi, describing his go to to the East African powerhouse as “a turning point in the development of relations” between the 2 international locations.

He then flew to the Ugandan metropolis of Entebbe, the place he was welcomed with a gun salute and army parade, public broadcaster UBC confirmed.

He is because of meet along with his Zimbabwean counterpart Emmerson Mnangagwa on Thursday.

Africa has emerged as a diplomatic battleground in current months, with Russia and the West vying for assist over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, which has had a devastating influence on the continent, sending meals costs hovering.

Western powers have additionally sought to deepen commerce ties with the continent, together with India and China, which have been on an infrastructure spending spree in Africa.

Raisi stated his talks with Ruto mirrored “the determination and resolve of both countries for expansion of economic and trade cooperation, political cooperation, cultural cooperation”.

Ruto described Iran as “a critical strategic partner” and stated the 2 sides had signed 5 memoranda of understanding overlaying info expertise, funding, fisheries and different areas.

“These memoranda will enhance and further deepen our bilateral relations for sustainable growth and development,” he stated.

Ruto informed reporters that Raisi had additionally shared plans for Iran to arrange a plant within the port metropolis of Mombasa “to manufacture an indigenous Iranian vehicle that has now been given the Kiswahili name, ‘Kifaru’, meaning rhino.”

– ‘Common political beliefs’ –

Iran’s official IRNA information company stated Raisi’s delegation contains the overseas minister in addition to senior businesspeople.

Iranian overseas ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani had expressed optimism that the journey may assist bolster financial and commerce ties with African nations.

He additionally stated on Monday that Tehran and the African continent share “common political views”, with out elaborating.

Iran has stepped up its diplomacy in current months to scale back its isolation and offset the influence of crippling sanctions reimposed because the 2018 withdrawal of the United States from a painstakingly negotiated nuclear deal.

On Saturday, Raisi welcomed Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf in a bid to spice up ties with Algiers.

Last week, Iran turned a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which incorporates Russia, China and India.

In March, Tehran agreed to revive ties with regional rival Saudi Arabia beneath a China-mediated deal. It has since been seeking to re-establish relations with different international locations within the area together with Egypt and Morocco.

In June, Raisi undertook a Latin American tour that included Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba earlier than a visit to Indonesia.

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