Rouhani to visit Algeria in mid-March

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani is expected to visit Algeria on March 12th and 13th following previous similar visits of former Iranian presidents.

Earlier, Iranian Ambassador to Algiers Reda Amiri announced the visit amid objection expressed on social media. A number of activists and politicians in Algeria and abroad rejected the visit due to ideological convictions and the fact that Iran is a “Shiite State.”

According to observers, Algeria does not take in consideration those “popular” positions in its foreign relations. The most important for the government is to reinforce bilateral relations. This was reflected on exchanged visits.

Earlier, Iran’s foreign minister Javad Zarif  visited  Algiers and was followed by Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal’s visit to Tehran. He had met  Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who asked Algeria to be part of an alliance against ISIS.

Ambassador Amiri said there is a remarkable convergence in the Algerian and Iranian positions about Arab crises.

Tehran managed to lift the embargo thanks to investment opportunities in Algiers including cars making field. It is expected to set up water desalination and dirty water treatment plants in Algeria.