Iran-Africa Relations: Opportunities and Prospects for Iran

Abstract

Este trabalho traça um panorama das relações do Irã com a África entre os anos de 2006 e 2015. Durante o período em estudo, a maioria dos países ocidentais evitou as relações econômicas, diplomáticas e militares com o Irã levando dificuldades econômicas a esse país. A fim de diminuir essas dificuldades, o Irã voltou-se para seus aliados tradicionais, como a China e a Rússia, e principalmente, voltou seus olhos para o continente africano, onde procurou apoio político e diplomático e as relações econômicas para aliviar o ônus imposto pelas sanções. Entretanto, a partir da eleição do Presidente Rouhani essa postura começa a alterar-se, buscando aproximar-se dos países ocidentais, para livrar o Irã do isolamento.

Iran‐Africa Relations under Raisi: Salvaging Ties with the Continent

“…15 By contrast, under Rouhani, trade remained comparatively and continuously low because he initially and exclusively pursued rapprochement with the United States and the West over Africa and the Global South to differentiate himself from Ahmadinejad and to ease international pressure and economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic. 16 This policy may have been partially motivated by the sharp drop in international oil prices during Rouhani's presidency. 17 Under Rouhani, the African Headquarters in the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairsestablished under Ahmadinejad in 2005 and responsible for expanding economic relations with Africa -was nearly wound down.…”

Iran's global reach: The Islamic Republic of Iran's policy, involvement, and activity in Africa

“…This population is seeking employment that their governments cannot fully provide for them, meaning external investment is the main source of employment opportunities. Investment and deeper involvement in Africa not only increase the IRI's prestige and popularity among the local population, but also meet the IRI's economic interests as a market for its exports, bypassing economic sanctions (Chimarizeni, 2017; Frud, 2019; Ottolenghi, 2013; Rome, 2019, pp. 36–38).…”

“…The governments of the IRI in this period adopted a policy of combining and balancing between political diplomacy (such as enlisting pro‐Iranian African votes in the United Nations, IAEA or in the NAM) (Onderco, 2016, pp. 256, 259; Chimarizeni, 2017, pp. 36–45) and economic diplomacy (such as the sale of Iranian agricultural and industrial products, export of Iranian know‐how, and developmental projects).…”