Iran is a big market with 85 million people and is a regional crossroads between North, South, East and West. We have 15 neighbouring countries. We also connect the countries of the former USSR to the Indian Ocean. Iran is therefore a lucrative market for Mauritian products such as special sugars, textiles, etc.

This week, we talk to Iranian Ambassador to Mauritius Hassan Alibakhshi about the issues of human rights in his country. We also shed light on the latest developments in the relationship between Mauritius and Iran and the benefits that both countries may accrue. A morder souffler interview.

Whenever there is talk about Iran, the issue of human rights comes up. A few weeks ago, the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini – who was arrested in Tehran by the Vice Police [a dedicated unit that enforces strict dress codes for women, such as wearing the compulsory headscarf – Ed] made the headlines. This is not a sign of a country that respects human rights, is it?
I disagree with your arguments. Mahsa Amini was arrested by the Vice Police to notify her that her attire does not correspond to the standards and regulations in force. These are norms that all families in Iran are familiar with. With us, the wearing of the veil is regulated.

And how did she end up dead?
According to evidence from hospital archives, the girl had undergone open brain surgery in 2006, and during her arrest, she suffered from a heart attack. Unfortunately, she died two days after her arrest.

A nice bedtime story…
Believe me, that is what happened. We are all sad and bereaved by this human loss and her death touched the entire Iranian society and myself personally. Subsequently, as this file took on a political aspect and an international dimension, an autopsy was carried out, and a scientific and technical investigation was carried out by a special commission made up of 19 renowned and independent doctors. The result is that she died as an outcome of her illness.

It’s obvious that those protestings in the streets of Tehran did not swallow this story, did they?
Well, there has been too much intoxication and too much prejudice from certain Western media. Western tabloids accused Iranian police of beating Amini to death, which sparked the riots.

Western media only related the story. They didn’t invent facts, did they?
I can tell you that these media invent anything to feed the mentality of some persons. Personally, I followed RFI, BBC and France 24. As usual, too much amalgamation, blackmail, false lies to incite Iranian youth to violence. We have the feeling that they are paid to carry out such a campaign. Iran has a population of 85,000,000 people. A few groups demonstrated here and there and the media blew it out of proportion. We have all experienced the turmoil and wickedness of this press during the aggression of Iraq, Libya, Syria, etc. Look today at what they have done in Libya, Afghanistan, Iraq and other Islamic countries. You've followed their role in revolutions around the world. Fortunately, you, Africans are used to this kind of maneuvre.

But what is happening in Iran is different. It’s not an invasion. It’s your own people, saddened and revolted by what happened to Amini, who took to the streets to say enough is enough. Why blame the Western media?
This is a conspiracy against my country. Washington has long tried to mobilise Iranians against their own government, either through media propaganda or through inhumane sanctions. The Western press has maneuvered for almost a month. It has acted as if Iran was going to fall any minute but none of that has happened. It is good to make a comparison between Chad and Iran. Last week, dozens of people were killed in peaceful protests. How many times have these media broadcast the news of this tragedy? Are there no human rights in that country? You know better who manages the Western media. Why do they interfere so much in our internal affairs? Do you think all these ad attacks are normal?

Going back to the protests that Amini’s death sparked, seven more people were reportedly killed. Isn’t this a sign of the worst repression?
According to the Iranian constitution, leading demonstrations or expressing aspirations is a legitimate right of everyone. We are a democratic country. Of course, there is a difference between peaceful protest and vandalism and terrorism. Those who attacked banks, government buildings, ambulances and public property are not peaceful protesters. A peaceful demonstrator never goes to a demonstration with bladed weapons or firearms. The protesters attacked a police station and killed the police. We lost about 20 members of the security forces.

And the police retaliated with unrestrained force…
In recent incidents, our police never used real ammunition. Several terrorists of foreign origin have been arrested among the demonstrators. They are the ones who killed innocent demonstrators to put the blame on the police. Western countries want to make of Iran another Libya, Iraq and Syria. But the Iranian people are vigilant; we don't let ourselves be fooled like many cases in the past. No foreign interference is tolerated by the Iranian people.

Won’t this worsen the economic sanctions against Iran, causing a lot of hardship, aggravating an already explosive situation?
You know, we have been under sanctions, or in other words, under American economic terrorism for 43 years now – ever since the Revolution. These sanctions are reinforced from government to government in the USA. There have never been such sanctions against any country in all history. These are the toughest and most inhumane sanctions from the US. They even prevent access to essential and necessary medicines in the treatment of certain special diseases. I invite you to see the report of Ms. Alena Douhan, special rapporteur on the negative effects of unilateral coercive measures on the exercise of human rights on this subject.

What about the use of Iranian drones in the war in Ukraine these days? Also an invention of the West?
This is another Western media blackmail. We have defense cooperation with Russia. It is our neighbour. But our policy towards the war in Ukraine is based on neutrality, that is not sending arms to the parties in conflict, putting an end to the displacement of populations and stopping the war through diplomacy. The principle of respect for the territorial integrity of all the countries of the world dominate this policy. The foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran is based on logic, rationality and diplomacy; it is not based on double standards.

Western countries want to make of Iran another Libya, Iraq and Syria. But the Iranian people are vigilant; we don't let ourselves be fooled like many cases in the past.

So how have you been coping with all the sanctions against you?
These sanctions target the whole Iranian society and it is interesting that instead of canceling them, the Americans shed crocodile tears for some Iranians. These sanctions are a crime against humanity and the media that cover these crimes are complicit. In the past, thousands of Iraqi children have died because of these sanctions. In spite of all the problems caused by these sanctions in the daily lives of Iranians, we managed to defuse and neutralise them. When Americans see that their collection of sanctions has not come to their nefarious goals, they plan conspiracies of every kind like what you are seeing now.

Luckily for you, there are no sanctions from Mauritius. The relationship between Mauritius and Iran seems to have made tremendous progress since your last visit six months ago. What has concretely been done since?
Relations between Iran and Mauritius go back a long time, although they have not developed as much. Château Val Ory has been the symbol of the historical friendship between our two nations for eight decades.

Since the 1979 Revolution?
Yes. After the  Revolution, we wanted to strengthen our cooperation with Mauritius, but we did not receive a positive response from Mauritius in this regard and the enormous potential that exists between our two countries remained untapped.

Yet, the two countries are members of several international and regional organisations including the India Ocean Rim Association (IORA), aren’t they?
Yes, indeed, which is why as soon as I arrived in Madagascar in January 2019, I tried to strengthen this traditional friendship. It was after the opening of the borders in early 2022 that I had the opportunity to come to Mauritius for the first time and discuss the opportunities with this country's authorities. During my stay in Mauritius, I explained the opportunities and capabilities that Iran can offer to the Island and the Mauritian authorities accepted the collaboration I proposed, especially in the fields of tourism, health, agriculture, livestock, fishing, education, energy security, food security, fertilisers, etc.… So they decided to send a prospecting delegation to Iran.

Things seem to have moved very fast from then…
Yes. When this delegation, made up of the private and public sectors, left for Iran, they saw who we are and what we can do. So, it is a very good start and I really welcome this initiative.

The war between Russia and Ukraine must have helped…
Yes, the war and the Covid-19 have created exceptional situations for certain countries in order to review their foreign policy and identify new reliable partners.

Have there been any commercial exchanges since?
Yes, trade between our two countries was weak despite the enormous available opportunities. Also, a large part of this exchange has been going through intermediaries. During the stay of the Mauritian delegation in Iran, apart from the official meetings, several B to B meetings were organised between the two parties; two MoUs were signed between the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry and their counterparts in Iran and Shiraz. Also the first Mauritius-Iran Economic Forum was organised by the Economic Development Board and one MoU was signed with its Iranian counterpart. I think the cooperation will grow more and more.

The government of Mauritius has, after your discussions with the authorities, also removed the need for a visa for Iranians visiting Mauritius. Has that incited some Iranian tourists to visit our island?
Before this decision, Iranian nationals could travel to all Indian Ocean island countries and their visa is issued on arrival. Given the importance of the Iranian tourist mass, Mauritius could not neglect this opportunity either. So from now on, this facility will be able to encourage more Iranians to better discover the Island.

We have been under sanctions, or in other words, under American economic terrorism for 43 years now – ever since the Revolution. These sanctions are reinforced from government to government in the USA.

Iranians know Mauritius through Château Val Ory, don’t they?
Yes, it is part of their history. So they want to come and find out. Already, Iranian tourists have started to visit the Island in small groups and we are looking into the arrival of charter flights in the near future. During the visist of the Mauritian delegation to Iran, the Mauritius Tourism and Promotion Authority organised "a tourism forum" to present all the tourist attractions of Mauritius. At this forum, we had the participation of 400 Iranian tourism professionals.

What is the next step in the Mauritian/Iranian cooperation?
I think with what was happening recently, we are heading towards a consolidation of relations between our two countries and our people. The forthcoming opening of the Economic Office of Mauritius in Tehran – the decision of which has already been taken – encourages my country to think about reciprocity. Fortunately, mutual trust between the two countries has been restored, and the exchange of high-level delegations between us will deepen this trust.

Were there any trade agreement signed between the two countries?
During their stay, the Mauritian delegation was able to present the economic capacities of the country to Iranian investors, and my compatriots discovered the option of the regional platform of Mauritius, which was unknown before. Iranians want to take advantage of the free trade agreements that the island has signed with many countries around the world. In other words, Iranian economic operators consider Mauritius as an important regional base. In this context, we will have a large delegation of businessmen who will come to Port Louis.

What kind of Iranian products should we expect to see soon on our supermarket shelves?
In Iran, we produce everything. When I checked the Mauritian market, I could see that you import almost everything. Iran will therefore be able to export all the products you need, particularly in the field of construction. Iran is a major producer of cement, iron and many other materials. We are self-sufficient in food and we can export fruits and vegetables as well as meat and other basic necessities such as wheat, flour, vegetable oil, fertilisers, medicines, foodstuffs, bitumen etc. As the operators of the two countries have known each other for a long time, I believe that we will achieve rapid development. Fortunately, the two countries are not too far apart, about 10 to 15 days by boat.

What Mauritian products will your compatriots buy in Iran?
Iran is a big market with 85 million people and is a regional crossroads between North, South, East and West. We have 15 neighbouring countries. We also connect the countries of the former USSR to the Indian Ocean. Iran is therefore a lucrative market for Mauritian products such as special sugars, textiles, etc. So there are many possibilities for Mauritius. It’s going to be a win-win situation.