Ethiopian MPs Visit Iran Defense Expo in Tehran: What You Need to Know
An Ethiopian parliamentary delegation led by Speaker Tagese Chaffo visited Tehran, held talks with senior Iranian officials, and toured a defense industry exhibition, signaling closer political and parliamentary engagement.
An Ethiopian parliamentary delegation led by the Speaker of the House of Peoples’ Representatives, Tagese Chaffo, has paid an official visit to Iran, including a tour of a high-profile exhibition showcasing Iran’s defense industry capabilities, Iranian state media reported.
The Ethiopian lawmakers visited the Exhibition of Iran’s Defense Industry Achievements, hosted at Iran’s Ministry of Defense in Tehran, where they were briefed on the country’s latest advancements in military technology and defense manufacturing. The delegation observed a range of defense equipment developed by Iranian experts and domestic industries.
The delegation was headed by Tagese Chaffo, Ethiopia’s parliamentary speaker, and included senior members of the Ethiopian legislature. During the visit, the delegation held meetings with top Iranian officials, including Judiciary Chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Ejei, President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, according to Mehr News Agency.
The Ethiopian delegation was accompanied by Manouchehr Mottaki, Chairman of the Iran–Ethiopia Parliamentary Friendship Group, underscoring the parliamentary dimension of the bilateral engagement.
The visit took place in Tehran on Sunday, following an official invitation extended by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament.
The visit signals a deepening of political and parliamentary ties between Ethiopia and Iran at a time when both countries are seeking to broaden international partnerships beyond traditional allies. The defense exhibition tour, in particular, highlights Ethiopia’s interest in understanding Iran’s indigenous defense capabilities, even as Iran remains under international scrutiny for its military programs.
Mehr News Agency noted that Ethiopia, represented by the visiting delegation, is a member of the BRICS grouping, a bloc increasingly positioning itself as an alternative platform for political and economic cooperation among emerging economies.
The Ethiopian lawmakers traveled to Tehran at Iran’s official invitation, held high-level political meetings, and then toured the defense exhibition, where Iranian officials presented recent technological developments and production capacities in the defense sector.
While no formal agreements were announced, the visit provided an opportunity for dialogue, exposure, and confidence-building between the two parliaments.
Iran has increasingly used defense exhibitions and parliamentary diplomacy to showcase its technological self-reliance and to strengthen ties with partners in Africa, Asia, and the Global South. Ethiopia, meanwhile, has been expanding its diplomatic footprint amid regional security challenges in the Horn of Africa and its growing role in multilateral groupings such as BRICS.
The Ethiopian parliamentary delegation’s visit to Iran reflects a pragmatic diplomatic outreach by both sides, blending political dialogue with strategic signaling. As Addis Ababa continues to diversify its international relationships, and Tehran seeks new partners amid geopolitical pressure, the Tehran meetings and defense exhibition tour point to a cautious but deliberate effort to explore areas of mutual interest—without yet crossing into formal commitments.
