Press TV exclusive: Cuba enjoys ‘best condition’ of ties with Iran

Cuban Ambassador to Tehran Alberto González Casals has hailed his country's "best condition" of cooperation with Iran not only in the production of vaccines against COVID-19 but in biotechnology and many other fields.

"We are in the best conditions to cooperate with the Iranian counterpart not only for vaccines…but in many ways in biotechnology. Biotech is important for us. We have excellent scientific people like Iran has and we find proper ways to cooperate in both things," González told Press TV on Wednesday after meeting with Head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) World Service Ahmad Norouzi.

In January 2021, Iran and Cuba signed an agreement to cooperate in the coronavirus vaccine project amid crippling sanctions imposed on the two countries by the administration of former US President Donald Trump.

Iran, Cuba to mass produce COVID-19 vaccine amid US sanctions: Official

The two countries have signed an agreement to cooperate in the coronavirus vaccine project with the use of a technology coming from Cuba.

The US sanctions have hampered both country’s access to medical equipment and medicines and complicated the process of importing vaccines from abroad, making them two of the hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

González added that Iran and Cuba have succeeded in jointly mass producing PastoCovak vaccines and praised the Islamic Republic for refusing to depend on foreign vaccines.

The Cuban ambassador slammed the abuse of coronavirus vaccines as a political tool against world nations, saying, "That is why it is really nice that our countries, Cube and Iran, have their own vaccines."

He noted that Cuba has in this moment five vaccines against the COVID-19, adding, "We are trying to cooperate in the pneumococcus vaccines too and in other points of views and issues."

The diplomat expressed confidence that Tehran and Havana would take more steps to improve cooperation in medicine and biotechnology.

Iran, Cuba can defeat sanctions: CEO of IRIB World Service

Norouzi said he was pleased with the meeting, calling for Tehran and Hanava to join hands against the American policy of pressure and sanctions against independent states.

"Mr. Casals spoke like a warrior and I found him to be a sincere friend in the global fight against US imperialism," Norouzi said in a tweet.

"Together we can defeat blockades & sanctions, be it economic or media one," he emphasized.

Earlier, González had praised Press TV and Hispan TV "for their active participation in the media marathon against US blockade."

"An extensive program of bilateral cooperation awaits US," the Cuban ambassador tweeted.

Iran and Cuba have been making efforts in recent years to enhance cooperation in all fields, especially trade, science and technology.

In a meeting with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel in January, Iran’s Vice President for economic affairs Mohsen Rezaei called for strengthening relations with Cuba in order to counter the enemies’ illegal campaign of pressure and sanctions targeting both nations.

Thwarting US: Iran's vice president meets Cuban president on LatAm visit

Iran’s vice president for economic affairs calls for strengthening relations with Cuba in the face of the enemies’ illegal pressure and sanctions campaigns.

“By expanding cooperation, we must neutralize the sanctions and pressure of the enemies and render ineffective their conspiracies against resilient nations. Of course, it has been the case so far,” Rezaei said.

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