TEHRAN – Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz held talks with new Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian late on Monday, focusing on deepening ties between the two countries.

Marrero Cruz visited Tehran on Monday morning to attend the official inauguration of Pezeshkian in the parliament on Tuesday afternoon.

At the meeting, Pezeshkian called for the implementation of agreements reached between the two countries during the late President Ebrahim Raisi’s visit to Havan.

Pezeshkian went on to say that surely nothing can cause a crack in the “will” of the two countries to develop their ties.

The new Iranian president also praised the struggles of the Cuban nation against imperialism. He also said close cooperation between independent nations like Iran and Cuba is important in countering unilateralism.

The president also condemned the Zionist regime’s “crimes” against the “defenseless” people of Gaza and criticized countries that claim support for human rights for being “silent and inactive” in the face of these crimes.

Pezeshkian also lauded Cuba’s position in supporting the Palestinian people and said international bodies must take practical action to halt Israel’s carnage in Gaza.

For his part, the Cuban prime minister called ties between Iran and Cuba “unique” and “strategic”.

Marrero Cruz also said cooperation between Havana and Tehran is highly important to counter the oppressive sanctions of the United States against Cuba and Iran.

The prime minister also pointed to the two countries’ potential to develop cooperation in areas of energy, agriculture, transportation, and biotechnology.