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Under Western pressure, Iran turns to non-aligned bloc for backing in Uganda

Iran’s engagement with the movement comes amid its growing isolation from Western powers.

ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaks to foreign ambassadors to Iran in Tehran, on Oct. 5, 2025. — ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Kampala on Wednesday to attend the 19th Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement as Tehran seeks out friendly partners amid increased Western pressure and global isolation.  

The wider NAM meeting is being held Oct. 13-16 in Kampala, Uganda, with the ministerial meeting running Oct. 15-16. Iran's is among more than 100 delegations from NAM member and observer states attending the gathering, which focuses on evaluating progress made since Uganda assumed the NAM's chairmanship in 2024 as well as advancing the bloc's cooperation agenda. 

Araghchi is expected to hold bilateral meetings with a number of participating foreign ministers and officials on the sidelines. So far, he has met with officials from the Venezuelan, Indonesian and Palestinian delegations, according to Iranian media. 

The conference agenda includes discussions on issues such as multilateralism, South-South cooperation and the Palestinian question.

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