Pezeshkian’s Minsk visit ...
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As Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said, one must go “where he is expected, where the doors are open to him.” Perhaps this very idea is reflected in Pezeshkian’s approach, convincing him to undertake the journey to Belarus despite the cancellation of his earlier visit. This trip, therefore, has the potential to open a new chapter in relations between the two nations.
Belarusian-Iranian relations, over their slightly more than 30-year history, have experienced periods of both activity and decline (under the influence of internal and external factors).
A new impetus to bilateral relations was given in 2023 with the signing of a roadmap for comprehensive cooperation for 2023–2026. At that time, President A. Lukashenko emphasised that there had been “a certain pause” in relations between Belarus and Iran, which have been successfully overcome.
The roadmap mapped out their cooperation in the political, economic, consular, scientific, and technical spheres, as well as in the fields of education, culture, art, media, and tourism. As a result, the bilateral relations became truly multifaceted, extending far beyond mere traditional trade and economic cooperation.
Given their ideological proximity and similar views on international events (in particular, in the Middle East), the two countries support each other at major international forums and organisations such as BRICS, the SCO, and the UN. Belarus and Iran share and consistently defend the view that pressure from other states seeking to limit their sovereignty and interfere in the internal affairs of independent countries is unacceptable.
Particular importance is attached to military-technical cooperation. In July 2023, Belarusian Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin and his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, signed a memorandum on military cooperation. In 2024, Belarusian military personnel took part in anti-terrorism exercises in Iran. And this year, an Iranian military attaché’s office opened in Minsk for the first time.
The parties are actively cooperating in the humanitarian sphere as well. On the agenda are student exchanges, joint research projects, and the organisation of direct air links between Belarus and Iran. Furthermore, the development of Iranian studies in Belarus is gaining momentum.