Senegal says illogical pressure on Iran will not work

TEHRAN, June 21 (MNA) – Senegalese Foreign Minister Madicke Niang has said “irrational” measures against Iran will be ineffective, a reference to sanctions resolutions against Tehran for its nuclear program.

Niang made the remarks in a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki in Tehran on Saturday.

Niang also said that the nuclear deal signed between Iran, Turkey, and Brazil known as the Tehran Declaration could provide ground for nuclear negotiations.

According to the declaration, which was signed by the foreign ministers of Iran, Turkey, and Brazil in Tehran on May 17, Iran would ship 1200 kilograms of its low-enriched uranium to Turkey to be exchanged for 120 kilograms of 20 percent enriched nuclear fuel rods to power the Tehran research reactor, which produces radioisotopes for cancer treatment.

To show that his country rebuffs Western-backed efforts to sideline Iran, the top Senegalese diplomat said, “We, in order to have a meaningful and symbolic presence in Iran, have sent the most powerful political and economic delegations to Iran and this shows the Senegalese leader’s determination for expanding ties between the two countries more than before.”

He said Senegal is ready to discuss new areas of cooperation within the framework of the two countries’ joint committee and resolve hurdles in implementing the previous agreements.

“Iran-Senegal relations should include regional cooperation beside (their) bilateral relations, and Senegal, as a gate to West Africa, is interested in expanding multilateral cooperation” with Tehran, he explained.

He added Dakar is ready to develop cooperation with Tehran on road construction, housing, water and electricity.

For his part, Mottaki said Tehran-Dakar ties are growing, citing manufacture of refineries, power plants, and automobile as examples.