Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi made a rare visit to Africa this week, starting in Kenya and followed by Uganda, Zimbabwe, and other nations.

The trip is meant to promote economic diplomacy, strengthen political relationships, and diversify export destinations. Raisi also used the opportunity to criticize Western nations' support for homosexuality as one of the “dirtiest” episodes of human history.

In Kenya, the Iranian leader and President William Ruto discussed the potential to expand trade, and signed several memoranda of understanding focusing on information, communication and technology, fisheries, animal health and livestock production, and investment promotion.

They also discussed establishing a manufacturing plant for Iranian vehicles in Kenya's port city of Mombasa. Raisi’s visit to Uganda saw the two countries agreeing to cooperate in the face of Western attacks against the establishment of families and culture.

Unfortunately, Uganda recently passed anti-gay legislation with the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality” to widespread international condemnation. In Zimbabwe, the two nations agreed to deepen cooperation in areas like petroleum trade.

The country is also trying to establish a nuclear power plant, which would exploit its uranium deposits, with the help of China National Nuclear Corporation. Zimbabwe is also under U.S. sanctions.

Raisi’s Africa visit came on the back of his first visit to Latin America last month and a major diplomatic breakthrough with Saudi Arabia in March. Iran is in a growing standoff with Western nations over its nuclear program, which has made major advances in the five years since then-U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from an international agreement that restricted it.

Kenya is East Africa’s economic hub, an ally of the U.S., and recently signed a memorandum of understanding on “strategic civil nuclear cooperation” with the country. The nation is however struggling with debt and rising cost of living, leading to more deadly protests.

Overall, Iran’s president is looking to bond with African countries on more than purely economic grounds, while also seeking more partnerships around the world in the midst of U.S. economic sanctions.