The Iranian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mohammad Alibak, on Wednesday expressed pleasure with the relations between Iran and Nigeria, which, according to him, has been friendly over the years.
He also said that 53 countries, including Nigeria depend on Iran for medical treatment, making the country a health tourism hub.
The Envoy expressed this view in a statement issued in Abuja to celebrate the 43rd Islamic revolution in the Middle East country.
Alibak said he looked forward to a more fruitful cooperation between the governments and people of Nigeria and Iran in areas of mutual concern and interests.
According to him, the balanced and smart foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran is based on the expansion of relations with all countries of the world.
He said, “In the past year, we have witnessed the development of relations with the friendly country of Nigeria.
“In this regard, we can point to the multiplication of the volume of economic relations, exchange of economic delegations and conducting meetings and political consultations between the two countries at different levels.”
Alibak, however, decried the imposition of economic sanctions on Iran by some global ‘Super Powers’ that were, according to him, determined to stop the religious revolution in the country.
He said, “The Islamic Revolution of Iran took place at a time when the world was divided between the materialist blocs of East and West, and few thought that an oppressed nation could break the framework and come up with a new plan.
“To reach here, the Iranian nation has paved a long way, full of obstacles and barriers, mostly manufactured and set up by those foreign powers who have been refusing to come along with and grasp the new realities of the new Iran.
“But the will and resilience of the great and proud nation of Iran was and is, stronger than their schemes. Despite all hardships and ups and downs, grassroots support remains the main source of the power of the Islamic Republic.
“In the field of health, we have been able to become a health tourism hub in the region from dependence on foreign doctors, and now people from 53 countries, including Nigeria, travel to Iran for treatment. We are also one of the few countries to produce the coronavirus vaccine.
“In the field of science, we are ranked 21st in the world in terms of scientific articles; In terms of nuclear knowledge, we are in the top 5 developed countries in the world.
“In terms of level of welfare, 100 per cent of urban people and 91 per cent of villagers have access to asphalt roads; Electricity and water distribution network is established in 99 per cent of villages; Also, 83 per centof cities and 78 per cent of villages have been supplied with gas network; Industrially, the share of industry in GDP has increased from 16 per cent to 40 per cent; Iran’s non-oil exports have increased from $54 million to $31 billion.”
