President Ebrahim Raisi of Iran was welcomed with a red carpet on Wednesday as he began his three-country tour of Africa. Raisi’s trip is Iran’s attempt to diversify economic ties in the face of US sanctions.

#UPDATE: #Iran's President Ebrahim #Raisi received a red carpet welcome from Kenyan counterpart William Ruto on Wednesday as he began a three-country tour of Africa that Tehran has touted as a "new beginning" in relations with the continent.
It's the first time that an Iranian… pic.twitter.com/kK2O6PeWBz

— Mowliid Haji Abdi (@MowliidHaji) July 12, 2023

The trip was due to begin on Tuesday but was delayed by a day to finalise memorandums of understanding which Raisi and Kenyan counterpart William Ruto were to sign. On Wednesday, Iranian and Kenyan ministers signed five memorandums of understanding related to information technology, fisheries, livestock products and investment promotion.

At a press briefing after meeting Ruto, Raisi said he wanted to increase commercial ties with African countries. Iran’s foreign ministry said it expects trade with African countries to reach over $2 billion this year. Ruto asked Raisi to facilitate the export of more Kenyan tea, meat and other agricultural products to Iran and Central Asian countries.

With debt and rising living costs, protests are continuing to occur in Nairobi and other parts of Kenya. Since Donald Trump withdrew from the nuclear pact in 2018, Iran has increased its diplomatic outreach to developing countries. Raisi has visited Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua to shore up support with allies facing US sanctions.

Raisi is now due to travel to Uganda to discuss trade and bilateral relations with President Yoweri Museveni, and then to Zimbabwe. Iran is hoping the tour of Africa will mark a “new beginning” for relations with the continent.