March 18, 2026
Borkena
Toronto – Ethiopia and Iran held discussion for the first time since the start of the war in the Persian gulf in late February after Israel and the United States started aerial booming and missile attacks on Iran targeting decapitation of the Iranian government and untimely dismantling the Islamic revolution.
On Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia announced that Hadera Abera, State Minister, held talks with Ali Akbar Rezaei, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The Ministry framed its news release as a regular diplomatic engagement. It said the discussion was “on ways of further strengthening bilateral relations, with particular emphasis on expanding cooperation in the economic, trade, investment, and labor sectors.”
It also said that there was also an “exchange of views” on “regional developments, underscoring the importance of dialogue in advancing stability and collective security across the Middle East.”
The Ministry did not specify, it has been customary for the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as to what the views of the two sides are on the developments in the region.
The Ethiopian Prime Minister made phone calls to Kuwait after the country, which hosts U.S. military bases, was hit with Iranian missiles and drones. It was reported at the time that the Ethiopian Prime Minister described Iranian action as a “violation of sovereignty.” He also visited the United Arab Emirates, also hosts a U.S. military base, after it suffered a military attack from Iran.
The developments suggest that Abiy Ahmed’s administration is standing with the United Arab Emirates and other gulf regions. It implies that it is supporting the Israel and United States attack.
Iran on the other hand, made it clear that it will target countries hosting U.S. military bases in the region and those supporting the war on Iran.
And all the U.S. military bases in the region came under Iranian missile and drone attacks.
For now, there is no further information at this point if Iran is particularly asking Ethiopia to remain neutral and/or not to provide any support to Israel and the United States.
Notably, Russian president Vladimir Putin had a phone conversation with Abiy Ahmed earlier this week. The discussion was about strengthening bilateral cooperation in a range of areas.
In a related development, State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Hadera Abera, on Wednesday had a conversation with Suliman Khalid Al-Dhayi, Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to Ethiopia. Iran is not supporting the attack in Iran despite the two countries fought a bitter war in the 1980s.
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