TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi paid an official visit to Tunisia on Wednesday, holding high-level talks with President Kais Saied, Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Nafti, and other senior officials, as part of his broader tour of North Africa.

The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations and coordinating regional positions in the face of mounting Israeli aggression.

Meeting with President Saied

In his meeting with Tunisian President Kais Saied, Araghchi emphasized Iran’s satisfaction with the growing trajectory of Tehran–Tunis relations. He praised Tunisia’s principled stances on regional developments, particularly its firm support for the Palestinian cause and its condemnation of recent U.S. and Israeli attacks, including strikes on Iran.

President Saied described Iran–Tunisia relations as “brotherly,” stressing that they are built on mutual respect, understanding, and convergence of views. He reaffirmed Tunisia’s determination to expand cooperation across all fields of shared concern, including economic exchanges, tourism, and regional diplomacy.

Both sides exchanged views on regional crises, with particular focus on the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. They condemned the ongoing genocide and crimes of the Israeli regime against Palestinians, its repeated aggressions against neighboring states, and the recent terrorist attack on Qatar. The two leaders called for stronger regional cooperation to counter Israeli warmongering.

Talks with Tunisian Foreign Minister

Earlier in the day, Araghchi was welcomed by Tunisian Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Nafti. The two ministers reviewed the steady growth in bilateral ties and agreed on steps to further expand cooperation in economic, trade, scientific, medical, cultural, and tourism sectors.

They highlighted the importance of establishing direct flights between Tehran and Tunis, saying this would provide a major boost to economic and tourism links. Both sides also agreed to convene a session of the Joint Economic Commission in Tehran in the near future to accelerate practical cooperation.

On regional issues, the two ministers expressed strong concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and condemned Israel’s aggression in the occupied Palestinian territories. They also denounced Tuesday’s Israeli terrorist attack against Qatar, which targeted the political leadership of Hamas and resulted in multiple civilian casualties.

Foreign Minister Nafti further reaffirmed Tunisia’s position in condemning U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities, calling them a violation of Iran’s sovereignty. He stressed the right of all Non-Proliferation Treaty members, including Iran, to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. He also commended Tehran’s constructive engagement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), urging all parties to adopt a diplomatic and cooperative approach.

Joint press conference

Later on Wednesday evening, Araghchi held a joint press conference in Tunis, during which he highlighted the outcomes of his meetings with Tunisian officials and addressed regional security challenges.

“The Zionist regime poses the greatest threat to peace and security in our region, and confronting it requires a collective regional decision,” he said.

Araghchi added that his discussions with President Saied and Foreign Minister Nafti had focused on Israel’s attacks across the region, including against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Iran, and most recently Qatar.

“We are grateful for Tunisia’s clear and firm stance in condemning the cowardly aggression of the Zionist regime and the United States against the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he stated. “Tunisia’s position in condemning these attacks and in expressing solidarity with the people of Iran was both decisive and transparent.”

The foreign minister also recalled Tunisian President Saied’s trip to Iran last year to attend the funeral of the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his meeting with Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, describing it as a turning point in bilateral ties.

Araghchi further announced that the two sides had made “good decisions” to expand cooperation in tourism, medicine, science, and culture. He confirmed that the Iran–Tunisia Joint Economic Commission would convene soon in Tehran to follow up on the agreements reached during his visit.