Ayatollah Khamenei, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution: Independent countries should get closer to each other as much as possible and increase their cooperation despite the disturbances of some arrogant powers.

He pointed to the severance of relations with the racial discrimination regime of South Africa after the victory of the Islamic Revolution and said: The Islamic Republic cut ties with both the Zionist regime and the apartheid regime of South Africa almost simultaneously.

Recalling Nelson Mandela’s prominent role in overthrowing the racist regime of South Africa and his history of long-standing and close relations with the Islamic Republic, the Leader of the Revolution added: With the continuation of the struggle of Mandela and the people of South Africa, that cruel and anti-human regime was destroyed, and by doing this, Mandela actually breathed a new spirit into the entire African struggle scene.

He called the Islamic Republic’s view of South Africa a positive and constructive view and said: the relations between Iran and South Africa are very warm, and the cooperation between the two countries in international forums is very effective and efficient. But economic and commercial exchanges should also be increased according to the capacities of the two countries.

Ayatollah Khamenei considered the interaction of the two countries in the non-aligned movement as another area of cooperation and added: this cooperation will benefit all the non-aligned countries.

The Leader of the Revolution emphasized: The interests of independent countries are in increasing cooperation and cooperation in various fields, and we must deal with the obstacles that some powers create against these cooperation.

In this meeting, which was also attended by President Rouhani, the President of South Africa, Mr. Jacob Zuma, expressed his appreciation for the support of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the people of his country in the fight against the apartheid regime. The people of South Africa will never forget these supports and Mandela’s trip to Iran was also in practical appreciation of these supports.

Mr. Zuma stated that we have always been against Western sanctions against Iran and said: There are many and fertile grounds for increasing cooperation between the two countries and we are trying to make a new start in economic and commercial relations.

Some powers prevent the formation of relations between independent countries with unjustified excuses, but we can solve many problems by uniting and speaking together in global issues.