Belarus-Iran trade triples in 2022
Lukashenko to Iran: Let’s counter the West’s attacks together
Trade between Belarus and Iran increased three-fold in 2022 year-on-year, the Belarusian prime minister said, adding that Minsk highly values friendly ties with Tehran.
Roman Golovchenko made the remarks during his meeting with the First Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mohammad Mokhber in Minsk, Belarus, on October 17, BelTA reported.
“This year, we have added another 25 percent to the high figures of the previous year,” the prime minister said.
Golovchenko stated that the Belarus president’s visit to Iran in March 2023 made an important mark in building the Belarus-Iran strategic partnership.
The prime minister stressed that the country is precisely fulfilling “the provisions of the roadmap of comprehensive cooperation between the two countries in 2023–2026,” which was signed during the visit of the Belarusian president to Iran in March 2023.
“This is a systematic document to let us work through a list of specific practical measures. Many measures of this roadmap are being successfully implemented,” Golovchenko said.
The Belarusian prime minister said that Minsk expects Mokhber’s visit “to add even greater dynamics to interaction on projects in trade and economy, manufacturing and investment cooperation, petrochemical industry, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and transport.”
Mohammad Mokhber, for his part, highlighted, “Iran’s strategy is aimed at advancing economic and political relations with Belarus.”
On Tuesday, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko also met with the Iranian first vice president, stating the two countries should work “closely” together to counter attacks from the West.
The Belarusian president accused “unfriendly countries” — such as the US and other Western nations — of using never-ending Middle East tensions to poke Iran.
“The situation in the world is heating up,” Lukashenko underscored.
“The pressure exerted on our states is unprecedented,” Lukashenko told Mokhber. “But you have already learned to resist it to some extent, and your experience is valuable for us.”
“The most important thing for us is time, not sanctions and pressure. We should not lose time because of red tape,” the Belarusian leader said.
During Mokhber’s visit to Minsk, the Iranian official is set to meet several Belarusians for “high-level bilateral talks,” according to IRNA.
The one-day visit is expected to result in a new cooperation document to strengthen “ties between the two nations”.