Ethiopia-Iran Foreign Relations

Nuclear:

Ethiopia is a member of the Non-Aligned Movement, which released a statement in July 2008, stating that NAM states “welcomed the continuing cooperation being extended by the Islamic Republic of Iran to the IAEA” and “reaffirmed that states’ choices and decisions, including those of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in the field of peaceful uses of nuclear technology and its fuel cycle policies must be respected.”[1]

[Click here for more information on the Non-Aligned Movement.]

Economic Relationship:

Ethiopia and Iran have focused on strengthening trade relations and economic ties. According to then Iranian Ambassador to Ethiopia Kimors Fitwigamn, bilateral trade between Iran and Ethiopia grew from $19 million in 2004 to $35 million in 2007.[2]  In a joint economic commission in February 2005, the countries called for increased investment and trade relations.[3] The Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin indicated in September 2007 that Ethiopia was interested in purchasing Iranian oil in the future.[4]   In a meeting with Ethiopian Ambassador to Iran Tofiq Abdullah Ahmed in May 2008, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said that Iran was interested in increasing its investment in Ethiopia’s private sector and the two countries’ joint cooperation in agriculture and natural resources.[5]  

Diplomatic/Military Relationship:

Though Ethiopia has had friendly relations with the United States for many years, Iran has been extending its overtures to African country beyond economic relations into the political realm in recent years.  In December 2007, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister on Arab and African Affairs Reza Baqeri met with Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to discuss reopening Ethiopia’s embassy in Tehran.[6]  Additionally, in a note to Ethiopian President Girma Woldegiorgis in May 2008, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad expressed hope that their countries’ bilateral relations would be strengthened in the future through their two countries’ historical and cultural ties.[7]  In February 2009, Minister Mottaki attended the 12th Annual African Union Conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in order to promote Iranian economic and political ties with Ethiopia and the region.[8]  At the conference, Mottaki met with Prime Minister Zenawi, and other Ethiopian ranking officials, all of whom expressed appreciation for Iranian mediation of the ongoing conflict between Chad and Sudan.[9]