Iran Praises Mauritania for Cutting Ties with “Israel”

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad praised the Mauritanian government for breaking diplomatic ties with "Israel".

During a meeting with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz in Tehran on Monday, Ahmadinejad called the move a valuable step which "should set an example for the rest of the Islamic countries."

Mauritania cut its ties with "Israel", reflecting its anger and disapproval of the December 2008-January 2009 Gaza war, during which over 1400 Palestinians, mostly civilians, were killed.

The Iranian president also called "Israel" the "root of all the corruption in the region."

Mauritania's president is currently visiting Tehran with a high-ranking delegation. Tehran began expanding relations with Nouakchott after the African nation severed its ties with "Israel". In 2009, Iran completed the construction of an ophthalmology center in the Mauritanian capital left unfinished by "Israel".

During their meeting, the two presidents discussed bilateral ties as well as regional and international developments.