Iran committed to expand relations with Nicaragua: Economy Min

“There is a good level of political cooperation between Tehran and Managua and there is a potential for expansion of economic relations between the two countries,” he added.

Nicaragua’s Foreign Minister Samuel Santos López said for his part that Managua is keen to develop relations with Tehran.

“Nicaragua invites Iranian companies and investors to visit Managua and examine the investment opportunities in this region,” he added.

Nicaragua is a member of the Non-Aligned Movement, which released a statement in July 2008, saying that the member 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.”

Much of Nicaragua’s relationship with Iran centers on recent economic cooperation. Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has traveled to Iran and held talks with President Ahmadinejad about several joint development and trade projects in June 2008. Iran has funded several development and aid projects since 2007, including providing over 230 dlrs million for a hydroelectric dam (February 2008) and 2 dlrs million for a new hospital (August 2008). Relations between Nicaragua and Iran extend beyond bilateral deals, however.

In September 2007, Iran and Venezuela pledged 350 dlrs million to build a seaport for Nicaragua at Monkey Point.

In February 2009, Iran announced it would commit an additional 200 dlrs million to joint energy and agriculture projects in Nicaragua. Iranian investment in Nicaragua also includes the construction of a “mega-polyclinic” in the capital, Managua. Although the clinic is expected to be completed by 2010 and cost only 1.6 dlrs million, the ambassador of Iran to Nicaragua, Akbar Esmaeil Pour, stated in June 2009 that 'this is the first step we will take towards the welfare of the people of Nicaragua,” indicating that Iran is planning further investment in the country.

Iran began reaching out politically to Nicaragua as soon as populist President Daniel Ortega took office. In January 2007, Ahmadinejad traveled to Managua with a delegation to attend Ortega’s inauguration ceremonies. In June 2008, Ahmadinejad hosted Ortega in Tehran to discuss ways to increase their countries’ cooperation.

On the sidelines of the September 2009 UN General Assembly meeting, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki spoke with Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Lopez to discuss regional and international developments with particular focus on the global economic crisis.

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