TEHRAN (Tasnim) Irans new Ambassador to Senegal Einollah Qashqavi expressed Tehrans willingness to expand its relations with Dakar.
In a Friday meeting with Senegalese President Macky Sall, Qashqavi said the Islamic Republic is fully prepared to develop its ties with the West African nation in all fields.
He also delivered Iranian President Hassan Rouhanis congratulatory message to President Sall on Senegals Independence Day, and on behalf of Rouhani, officially invited the Senegalese head of state to visit Iran.
Sall, for his part, underlined the significance of ties with Iran and the Islamic Republics capabilities, saying that Dakar is also ready to expand its cooperation with Tehran in all areas.
He also asked for Irans support for Senegals economic plans, and expressed the hope that he would visit Tehran in an appropriate time.
During the meeting, the Iranian envoy also submitted his credentials to the Senegalese president.
Iran and Senegal in 2013 resumed diplomatic relations and reopened embassies in one anothers capitals, two years after the ties were severed.
Dakar had broken off relations with Iran in February 2011, over accusations that Tehran supported separatist rebels in its southern Casamance region, a charge Tehran strongly denied.
The two countries resumed their diplomatic relations following a decision by former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Senegalese counterpart Macky Sall on the sidelines of the 12th Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Cairo in February 2013.
Expansion of relations with African countries in all political, economic and cultural fields is top on the agenda of the Iranian foreign policy.
Irans President Rouhani has repeatedly said that his government welcomes boosting relations with African nations.