Cuba, Iran agree to deepen economic, political ties

Cuban President Raul Castro and visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Monday agreed to deepen economic cooperation and consolidate political relations.

According to an official statement, the pair discussed bilateral relations as well as other topics related to Zarif's six-nation Latin American tour.

Earlier in the day, the Iranian official also met respectively with Cuba's Vice President Ricardo Cabrisas, Trade Minister Rodrigo Malmierca, as well as his Cuban counterpart, Bruno Rodriguez.

During his meeting with Rodriguez, Zarif said Iran wants to tread a "new path" in its relations with Cuba by deepening economic ties in different areas.

Both ministers vowed that both countries would strengthen economic cooperation and consolidate political ties as they were both victims of Western isolation.

Zarif also praised Cuba's "resistance" against the United States, with which Iran has not had formal diplomatic relations since 1980.

They also talked about other international issues, particularly the upcoming Non-Aligned Movement summit to be held in September in Venezuela.

Rodriguez said Havana was "content" with Iran's foreign policy achievements, particularly the P5+1 nuclear deal reached last year that lifted unilateral economic sanctions against Tehran.

Havana was the first leg of the six-nation Latin American tour by the Iranian foreign minister, who brings a delegation of 60 leading entrepreneurs to strengthen Tehran's economic cooperation with the region.

Zarif left late Monday for Nicaragua, the second stop of his tour. Endi