Pezeshkian: Israel-US aggression part of West’s plan to expand domination
Iran, Belarus sign 12 cooperation documents
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Wednesday that a recent aggression by Israel and the United States against Iran is part of the West's efforts to expand its global influence and domination.
Addressing a meeting with Belarusian officials in the country’s capital Minsk, the Iranian president warned that threats by the West will not be limited to Iran and will target the independence of other countries as well.
Pezeshkian arrived in the Belarusian capital on Wednesday for a two-day visit, during which he held talks with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko and took part in a press conference, before attending a high-level meeting with Iranian and Belarusian delegations.
Pezeshkian called the June aggression by the US and Israel against Iran “clear violation of international law and the United Nations Charter”. He noted that the strikes took place amidst indirect nuclear negotiations between Iran and the US.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran has never started a war or aggression, but in the event of any aggression by its enemies, it will give a decisive and deterrent response”, the Iranian president said.
In mid-June, Israel launched a bombing campaign against Iran, triggering a war in which Iran responded with missile and drone strikes.
The Israeli offensive killed senior military commanders, nuclear scientists and hundreds of civilians, striking both military sites and residential areas. The United States briefly joined the war with strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
A cease-fire between Iran and Israel has been in place since June 24.
Threats to global security
The Belarusian leader, for his part, stressed that the US-Israel aggression against Iran poses a serious threat to regional and international stability and security.
"We stand behind Iran's legitimate right to develop peaceful nuclear energy. For a lasting peace, it is important to refrain from any action that could lead to renewed tension," Lukashenko said.
In a separate meeting with Belarusian president, Pezeshkian said the US and some of its Western allies are seeking to expand unilateralism across the globe and impose their dictates upon other nations, emphasizing that neither Iran nor Belarus will tolerate such an approach.
Tehran-Minsk relations
Pezeshkian then hailed the amicable bilateral relations between Iran and Belarus, stating that the two countries share identical stances on many regional and international subjects, and have constructive cooperation in international spheres.
“Additionally, the Eurasian Economic Union, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and BRICS serve as frameworks and platforms for facilitation and expansion of constructive interactions between Iran and Belarus,” he noted.
For his part, Lukashenko described Belarus as a friendly country and a reliable partner for Iran.
He stated that Minsk and Tehran, in an atmosphere of interaction and friendship, can expand cooperation and completely resolve possible problems facing some bilateral agreements.
The two presidents also oversaw the signing of 12 cooperation agreements and a joint statement on Wednesday.
High-ranking officials signed documents in the fields of politics, international law, tourism, arts, media, health, pharmaceuticals, industry, environment, free trade zones, as well as special industrial and economic zones and investment.