Iranian President Hassan Shiekh Rouhani set off Friday for a tour of Venezuela and Cuba before heading to New York for next week’s UN General Assembly, official media reported.
Rouhani will take part in a summit of Non-Aligned Movement countries and hold separate talks with Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro, the IRNA news agency said.
The 120-nation group was founded more than 50 years ago to represent countries resentful of being squeezed in the power-struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union.
Speaking to journalists before leaving Tehran, Rouhani described Cuba as a “friendly and revolutionary country” and said he would meet President Raul Castro, and his brother and revolutionary leader, Fidel.
“For us, peace and non-interference in domestic affairs of other countries, their national sovereignty, consultation and coordination on issues of the developing and entire world are important,” Sheikh Rouhani said.
Iran and world powers signed a landmark deal last year regarding Tehran’s nuclear peaceful program in exchange for the lifting of punishing economic sanctions.
Source: AFP
