Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi (R) meets Niger’s Foreign Minister Bakary Yaou Sangaré in Tehran on October 25, 2023. (Photo: president.ir)

Tehran, October 27 (RHC)-- Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi says the Western backing for the Israeli regime’s continued atrocities against the besieged Gaza Strip exposes their racist, colonialist nature.

Speaking in a meeting with visiting Niger’s Foreign Minister Bakary Yaou Sangaré on Wednesday, Raeisi said the West’s support revealed their “naked face of racism and colonialism.”  He was referring to the US and its European allies throwing their weight behind the Israeli regime in its ongoing war of aggression on Gaza and their blocking international efforts to stop the bombardment of the densely-populated region, which has caused massive human casualties.

Over the past days, several Western leaders have visited the occupied territories to show solidarity with the Israeli regime, including US President Joe Biden as well as his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Raeisi touched on Niger's strained ties with the West following the ouster of a pro-West government there, saying the resistance of Niger’s people in the face of Europeans' dominating policies shows Africa has really overcome colonialism.

“Being strong and resilient in the path towards reaching goals and protecting unity and solidarity are the key to success in achieving independence and freedom,” he said.

As Israel’s bloodshed in the Gaza Strip continues, calls are now growing to put an end to the regime’s crimes in the coastal enclave.   The president said Iran is ready to cooperate with Niger in economic fields of mutual interest.

The Nigerian minister said he’s pleased to witness Iran’s achievements, and said his visit is aimed at boosting friendly ties and uplifting cooperation with Iran.

Niger’s military ousted the Western-backed former president Mohamed Bazoum last July, and formed a government that has strained relations with some Western countries.   

France, the former colonial power controlling Niger, has refused to recognize the new rulers and demands the restoration of the government of Bazoum.   The coup against Bazoum was the third of its kind in the West Africa region in as many years, following similar military actions in Mali and Burkina Faso in 2021 and 2022, amid a wave of anti-French sentiment across parts of the continent.