TEHRAN, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa vowed to further improve bilateral relations and expand ties in various areas.
The two leaders held a phone call Thursday, during which the two also discussed the latest development in Gaza, according to a statement published on the website of Iran's Presidency Office on Friday.
Raisi expressed the determination to further improve bilateral relations with South Africa, highlighting the necessity to use diverse mutual capacities to expand bilateral relations in political, economic, scientific and technological areas.
He also praised the South African government for filing a case against Israel to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) late last December, concerning alleged violations by Israel of its obligations under the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide related to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
For his part, the South African president described Iran as a "true and reliable friend" that had always stood by his country in times of difficulty.
He stressed that his government and people highly respected Iran, voicing his country's willingness to promote all-out relations with Iran.
Ramaphosa also said he was very pleased to see that "influential and peace-loving" countries like Iran were supporting Palestinians and seeking to uphold their rights.
The ICJ is set to deliver a ruling on South Africa's case against Israel on Friday in Hague. It will also rule on South Africa's demand for the court's urgent intervention to stop Israel's military operation in Gaza.
Israel has been fighting with Hamas in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, 2023, after the group launched a surprise attack on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people. The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks in the enclave has risen to 25,900, according to the Gaza-based Health Ministry on Thursday. ■
