TEHRAN – Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei received the President of Tunisia and his accompanying delegation on Wednesday and expressed gratitude for the brotherly and heartfelt sentiments of President Kais Saied.

“The loss of the President and a number of officials and their companions in the recent incident is heavy, but throughout the era of the Islamic Republic, we have always seen that based on divine wisdom and with the patience and perseverance of the people, bitter events have turned into opportunities for progress and movements,” the Leader said. 

Ayatollah Khamenei expressed joy at Saied’s visit to Tehran, considering it a turning point in ties between Iran and Tunisia. “The presence of a distinguished and knowledgeable figure like Mr. Kais Saied at the helm of Tunisia is an opportunity for this country to show a new and positive face after years of authoritarian rule and cutting ties with the Islamic world,” he said. 

Ayatollah Khamenei hailed the Tunisian people’s social and political movements in the past years, which in his opinion, acted as catalysts for major changes in North Africa. “The Tunisian people have great potential for progress and advancement, and we hope that with the wisdom of Mr. Kais Saied, necessary unity among different factions in Tunisia will be achieved, paving the way for further progress.”

The Leader lauded the anti-Zionist positions of the Tunisian President, stating, “Such positions should be expanded in the Arab world because unfortunately, these issues are not given enough attention in the Arab world, and we believe that the only way to success is through resilience and stability.”

The President of Tunisia, referring to the common will of the two countries to expand relations in all areas, expressed hope that with the implementation of agreements reached during the tenure of President Raisi, practical cooperation will be realized.