Iran VP says eyes on independent states as he visits Uganda for NAM summit

Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber has traveled to Uganda to attend a summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) which he described a platform for independent voices and a venue which the international community now attaches great significance to its decisions. 

Mokhber arrived at Uganda's Entebbe airport on Saturday morning to attend the 19th NAM summit in capital Kampala where he thanked Ugandan authorities for hosting the event and highlighted the great capacities of the Non-Aligned Movement.

The summit is held as a non-aligned nation, South Africa, has hauled Israel before the International Criminal Court in the Hague on charge of committing genocide in Gaza and demanded that the UN’s top court order an emergency ceasefire.

The war, now in its 106th day, has marked a turning point in the colonial relationship between Western philosophy and the rest of the world, where the US and Europeans have stood by and let Israel massacre Palestinians on a daily basis. 

Addressing the summit, Mokhber said there is need to create a new peace-oriented order with the slogan "security for all, insecurity for no one".

Mokhber rejected unilateralism and imperialism, but endorsed resistance against oppression, saying any action taken by the Palestinians to resist by any possible means against occupation is their inherent right.

He said that "attempts by the Zionist regime and its Western supporters to project this legitimate struggle as a terrorist act lack legal authority and is a trick and deception".

He called on NAM states to support the end of the Israeli occupation, the return of refugees and a referendum to create a stable and just peace in Palestine and to condemn and stop the killing of the people of Gaza by the Zionist regime.

Mokhber also said the unilateral sanctions of the US and some other countries are a clear example of economic terrorism. He said the independent and free nations of the world do not accept force, imposition and humiliation.

Upon arrival in Kampala, Mokhber stated that NAM member states can wield enormous influence on international developments, particularly in terms of politics and economy.

“The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) projects the voices of world’s independent nations. Nowadays, world powers devote great attention to the decisions taken and policies adopted at alliances formed among developing countries,” he said.

Iran urges NAM members to renew solidarity with Palestine

Iran has called on members of the Non-Aligned Movement to renew their solidarity with the Palestinian nation.

He added, “Among the Islamic Republic of Iran’s objectives as to development of international relations is to value multilateralism and actively participate in major regional and internationally inclusive forums like NAM.”

In addition to delivering a speech at the summit, Mokhber plans to engage in bilateral meetings with some participating countries, notably African ones.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi has already stressed the need to promote ties with African nations, describing the continent as the land of opportunities where its potential should not be overlooked.

"We value our ties with the African continent, just as we do with the countries of Asia and other regions, and we should not overlook this continent, which is full of opportunities," Raeisi said at Tehran's Mehrabad Airport on July 14 last year upon return from his African tour, which took him to Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

The 19th NAM Summit under the leadership of Uganda is being held under the theme “Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global Affluence” and brings together more than 120 developing countries on a platform of crucial historic significance.

About 4,000 guests from different member states are expected to attend the summit that seeks to address pressing global issues and foster cooperation among member states.

The Non-Aligned Movement is the largest grouping of countries outside of the United Nations, making it an important role player in global and multilateral affairs.

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