FNA - Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in a message to his Cuban counterpart Miguel Diaz-Canel underlined the need for the expansion of bilateral relations between Tehran and Havana.

"I hope that Iran and Cuba will expand their mutual cooperation in the future," President Rouhani said in his message on Monday congratulating his Cuban counterpart on the occasion of the anniversary of the Cuban Revolution.

"We are happy that the Cuban government, with the support of people, has firmly resisted against all the conspiracies, threats, and sanctions over past 60 years, becoming a symbol of resistance against the Domination System.” The Iranian president added.

On January 1, 1959, Fulgencio Batista who had seized power through a military coup in 1952 fled the country in the early hours of the morning after being convinced that he was unable to resist the determination of Cuban people and their leader, the late Fidel Castro.

In relevant remarks in late January, President Rouhani in a meeting with Bandrich Vega underlined the need for enhancing bilateral relations with Havana.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran is after broadening of ties with the Cuban government," President Rouhani said during the meeting in Tehran.

The Iranian president said that Tehran-Havana relations have been constructive since the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, adding that Iran and Cuba encountered similar antagonistic plots in their post-revolutionary eras and there is no doubt that among the world revolutions, the names of Imam Khomeini and Fidel Castro will be remembered as outstanding revolutionary leaders.

Rouhani stressed that Tehran is against imposing sanctions as an outdated, wrong method, and said, "The Islamic Republic of Iran is against enforcing oppressive sanctions on the independent nations such as Cuba."