By Thaimu T Kamara

Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, has reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to strengthening parliamentary diplomacy and bilateral cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran following a courtesy visit by the Iranian Ambassador to Sierra Leone, H.E. Javad Dehghan.

The meeting, held at the Parliament of Sierra Leone on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, focused on strengthening legislative relations, promoting diplomatic engagement and exploring opportunities for closer cooperation between the two countries.

The Ambassador was received by Speaker Thomas in the presence of the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Abdul Kargbo, and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Daniel Brima Koroma.

During the engagement, Ambassador Dehghan called for stronger parliamentary relations between Sierra Leone and Iran, describing legislative diplomacy as an important avenue for promoting mutual understanding, cooperation and sustainable bilateral relations.

He formally requested the Speaker to constitute a parliamentary delegation to undertake an exchange visit to Iran, where members of the Sierra Leone Parliament would engage their Iranian counterparts, including the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament.

According to the Ambassador, such an exchange would provide an opportunity for both legislatures to share experiences, strengthen institutional relationships and explore areas of mutual interest.

He assured the parliamentary leadership of Iran’s readiness to expand cooperation with Sierra Leone, particularly in parliamentary engagement, diplomacy and economic development.

Ambassador Dehghan also acknowledged the existence of the Sierra Leone-Iran Parliamentary Friendship Group, expressing his commitment to supporting its revitalisation and ensuring that it becomes an effective platform for sustained parliamentary interaction between the two countries.

He noted that parliamentary friendship groups play an important role in strengthening relations beyond traditional diplomatic engagements by providing legislators with opportunities to interact, exchange ideas and develop common approaches to issues of mutual concern.

The Iranian envoy also briefed the Speaker and opposition leadership on challenges confronting his country amid prevailing regional tensions, including the implications of the conflict involving the United States and Israel.

Despite these challenges, he maintained that Iran remained committed to peace, dialogue, mutual respect and international cooperation as essential principles for resolving international disputes.

He expressed appreciation to Speaker Thomas and the opposition leadership for granting him an audience, describing the engagement as an important step towards advancing relations between the two countries.

In his response, Speaker Thomas warmly welcomed Ambassador Dehghan to the Parliament of Sierra Leone and expressed appreciation for his visit and the initiative to strengthen parliamentary cooperation.

He noted that Sierra Leone and Iran had maintained longstanding friendly relations over the years, stressing that such diplomatic ties should continue to be nurtured and strengthened for the mutual benefit of both countries.

The Speaker assured the Ambassador that the Sixth Parliament, under his leadership, remained committed to deepening Sierra Leone’s international parliamentary relations through constructive engagement, legislative exchanges and diplomatic cooperation.

He further expressed his willingness to meet with his Iranian counterpart, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, and confirmed his availability to lead a parliamentary delegation to Iran at a mutually convenient time.

Speaker Thomas described parliamentary diplomacy as an important instrument for strengthening international relations, noting that direct engagement between legislative institutions could create opportunities for cooperation, knowledge-sharing and institutional development.

He also reaffirmed the Sierra Leone Parliament’s commitment to promoting peace, international understanding and South-South cooperation, emphasising the importance of building relationships with countries that share common interests in development and global stability.

The presence of the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Opposition at the meeting also highlighted the importance of broad-based parliamentary participation in advancing Sierra Leone’s diplomatic interests.

The engagement comes at a time when parliamentary diplomacy continues to serve as an important channel for strengthening relations among nations, complementing traditional diplomatic efforts and creating opportunities for cooperation in governance, economic development and institutional capacity-building.

The courtesy call concluded with a renewed commitment by both sides to strengthen legislative exchanges, revitalise the Sierra Leone-Iran Parliamentary Friendship Group and explore opportunities for closer cooperation between the two Parliaments.

The proposed parliamentary exchange visit is expected to provide further impetus to bilateral engagement and reinforce the longstanding friendly relations between Sierra Leone and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 9th November 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)