Iran to open fertility research center in Algeria
Iran and Algeria have improved relations in recent years, leading to concerns from Morocco and Iranian government critics.
Iran is opening a fertility research center in Algeria. The move is part of a yearslong warming of ties between the Islamic Republic and the North African country.
The Royan Institute, which studies male and female infertility, embryo development and stem cells, will open a branch in Algeria, the semi-official Mehr News Agency reported on Tuesday. The negotiations took place for almost a year. The outlet did not report when exactly the institute will establish itself in Algeria.
Iran has sought better relations with Algeria for several years. In 2018, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani expressed a willingness to improve bilateral cooperation to then Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Rouhani continued this rhetoric after Bouteflika’s ouster in 2019. Iranian and Algerian diplomats made similar comments this month, according to the semi-official Tasnim News Agency.
The friendship is not new. Algeria also supported Iran’s rights to develop nuclear technology all the way back in 2007.
