Castro icon of independence-seeking fights: Zarif

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has offered his condolences over the death of the legendary leader of the Cuban revolution, Fidel Castro, saying he was an icon of the oppressed people’s struggle for independence.

“I offer my condolences to the resilient and revolutionary Cuban government and nation over the demise of Fidel Castro, the leader of Cuba’s Revolution who was a unique figure in the fight against colonialism and exploitation and was an icon of independence-seeking fights of the oppressed nations,” Zarif said in his message of condolences on Saturday.

Cuba's former president Fidel Castro, one of the world's longest-serving and most iconic leaders, died on Saturday at the age of 90, his younger brother and successor as president, Raul, announced the news on state television.

Castro famously led a guerrilla campaign that gained popular support and ousted US-backed Cuban dictator General Fulgencio Batista on January 1, 1959. He was then named prime minister.

Castro visited Iran in May 2001 and held talks with Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

Leading a Communist Cuba, Castro broke off diplomatic ties with the Capitalist United States in 1961 and expropriated US companies’ assets totaling more than one billion dollars.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi told IRNA on Saturday that an Iranian delegation will travel to Cuba to participate in Castro’s commemoration ceremonies.

SS