Story highlights
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visits Khartoum and speaks to supporters
The Iranian presidents was traveling home after speaking at the U.N. in New York
He tells the Sudanese that Europe and the U.S. "stole the riches of Africa"
Sudan's Omar al-Bashir supports Iran's nuclear program "for peaceful purposes"
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad lashed out Monday at “the powers of arrogance,” saying that both Sudan and Iran were subject to “pressures” from the West because of their political positions.
“They pressure Sudan and Iran; why? Because we stand against the powers of arrogance,” Ahmadinejad said during a visit to Khartoum.
Speaking to a crowd of cheering youths, students and supporters in Khartoum’s Friendship Hall, Ahmadinejad criticized Europe and the United States for what he described as the “stealing” of Africa’s wealth.
“They stole the riches of Africa,” he said.
“Despite this wealth, we see poverty and deprivation.”
Ahmadinejad arrived in Khartoum Monday morning on his way back to Iran after speaking to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, and after a brief stop in Mauritania.
Western delegates walked out of his speech at the U.N.after he repeatedly condemned the United States and said some countries use the Holocaust as an “excuse to pay ransom… to Zionists.”
“They don’t want to see Sudan strong so they pressured it into a referendum,” he said, in reference to the South Sudan referendum that led to the independence of South Sudan last July.
“Could there be a referendum in Europe, in the Basque (region of Spain) and other areas?” he asked.
“I am sure if there was a neutral referendum in the U.S., some states would secede from the U.S.,” he continued.
“The waves of consciences have started especially in the Muslim lands,” he said, in reference to the popular revolutions that have sprung out in the Arab world.
Earlier, Ahmadinejad and Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir met, along with a large team of ministers from both countries.
“We are looking for more economic cooperation with sisterly Iran,” al-Bashir said in a meeting.
“We confirm our support for Iran’s right to develop its nuclear technology for peaceful purposes,” he added.
In a joint statement by both governments, Iran stated that it was “ready to transfer its experience in the science and manufacturing sectors, especially technical and engineering services, to improve Sudan’s infrastructure.”