May 10, 2024
The Islamic Republic is yet again trying to gain a foothold in Africa. President Raisi visited there last July and international news agencies noticed a conference Iran held in Tehran in April promoting trade. To put this in context, then President Rafsanjani toured Africa in 1997 and launched a well-publicized effort to build up Iran’s presence in Africa. Almost three decades later, Iran’s share of African markets totals a mere 1 percent while China accounts for 17 percent.