TEHARN — Iran’s cooperation with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) continues to expand despite Western sanctions and political pressure, with the organization ready to help strengthen the country’s food security, Iran’s permanent representative to the agency says.
Speaking to IRNA on Saturday on the sidelines of the global From Seeds to Foods exhibition in Rome, Ali Kiani-Rad said pressure from hostile countries had never prompted FAO to reduce its cooperation with Iran.
He said the organization’s commitment had strengthened since the recently imposed war, adding that some countries had sought to politicize FAO’s work following the military aggression against Iran. Those efforts, he said, had failed to divert the agency from its technical mission to serve all member states.
Kiani-Rad pointed to FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu’s visit to Iran’s exhibition booth, saying he had reaffirmed Iran’s importance and agricultural capabilities. The envoy also recalled the director-general’s advice to turn external constraints into opportunities to strengthen domestic capacities.
At the five-day exhibition, running from October 8 to 12 at Rome’s Circus Maximus, Iran is showcasing dates, pistachios and saffron, alongside cultural programs. A collection of recipes for 35 traditional Iranian dishes has been prepared in English and Italian. An Iranian dish will be cooked live on Sunday, October 11, followed by local music and agricultural films on Monday, October 12.
Kiani-Rad said Iran would also participate in upcoming FAO events, including the World Food Forum and the Committee on World Food Security.
He said Tehran’s strategy was to strengthen its presence in international technical organizations and use their scientific, technical and diplomatic capacities to advance national interests and food security.
The ongoing exhibition in Rome brings together around 140 countries and more than 300 exhibitors.