Mugabe and Ahmadinejad in mutual love-in

Ahmadinejad and Mugabe with Khamenei

I know it is a bit like shooting fish in a barrel but I couldn’t let a meeting between Robert Mugabe and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad pass by. While leaders often use mutual hyperbole during state visits, sometimes this adulation can be quite sickening - it certainly is in this case.

Mugabe, who is currently in Tehran to sign cooperation agreements between Iran and Zimbabwe was described by Ahmadinejad as a "just leader, a person who loves freedom and a freedom fighter"

Ahmadinejad also condemned sanctions on Zimbabwe and as “a standard bearer of revolutions” pledged Iran’s in the face of “Western machinations”: "We believe Zimbabweans have every right to defend their sovereignty and land. We are happy that Zimbabwe has once again taken control over its resources and we support the land redistribution programme. We condemn the efforts and pressure put on Zimbabwe by a few bully nations. We do not recognise the measures (sanctions) put in place against Zimbabwe. We are going to stand side-by-side with the Government and people of Zimbabwe."

For his part, Mugabe stated that Iran was “Zimbabwe's elder and powerful brother”. "The two countries of Zimbabwe and Iran are not only economic partners and friends but both also have got common ideology and revolutionary beliefs. They have always been friends and supporters of each other from the past and they will continue to be so in the future," commented Mugabe. "The two countries will defend themselves against the possible invaders and their ill intentioned enemies."


During his visit Comrrade Mugabe also visited the shrine of Ayatollah Imam Khomeini is buried and laid a wreath and met the current supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Hoseini Khamenei. Today he is expected to visit a tractor manufacturing plant in Tabriz before winding up his visit.

Sources

Harare Herald

Newzimbabwe

ISNA

Jerusalem Post