Raisi's Souvenirs from Africa: Iran's Exports to Africa Halved

While Ibrahim Raisi's trip to Africa in July aimed at expanding trade and signing 21 cooperation agreements, including bartering blue Nissan vehicles for red meat and bartering petrochemical products for essential goods, it has now been reported that trade between Iran and Africa decreased by 53% in the first seven months of the year. The spokesperson for the International Relations Commission of the Iran Chamber of Commerce stated that the country's exports to Africa in the first seven months of this year amounted to $434 million, which is a 53% decrease compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, on July 14, after returning from his trip to Africa, Ibrahim Raisi stated that 'Africa is a land of opportunities and should not be neglected.' Concurrently with this trip, the ISNA news agency reported that one of the imported items by the government last year (1401) from African countries was 'monkeys.' The Ham-Mihan newspaper also criticized this trip on July 19, stating that Iran deserves and is capable of hosting regional and global powers, rather than relying on bankrupt and underdeveloped countries such as Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Uganda, etc. This newspaper emphasized that the technical and technological achievements of this trip seem to be even less than those of Naser al-Din Shah's trip to Europe, as Naser al-Din Shah brought back a camera as a souvenir. However, the government spokesperson stated that 'the main goal of this trip is to enhance relations with friendly and aligned countries, develop markets, and diversify the export destinations of the Islamic Republic.' The achievements of the trip to Africa are questioned; Ham-Mihan newspaper: Trade between Iran and Zimbabwe was less than the cost of Raisi's trip. Raisi's souvenirs from Africa; bartering blue Nissan vehicles for meat and petrochemical products for food. Raisi on the way to Africa; state media say it is aimed at strengthening cooperation.