Despite harsh Western protests against the one-sided presidential election in Zimbabwe, Iran on Tuesday voiced "respect" for the election result in the African state, reported dpa.
Official news agency IRNA quoted Foreign Ministry Spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini as saying that Iran would respect the will of the people of Zimbabwe - "whatever it is" - and Tehran hoped the result would serve the interests, growth and independence of that country.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has warm ties with his Zimbabwean counterpart Robert Mugabe, who even came to Tehran in 2006 for an official visit.