Belarus and Iran deepen defence ties in the face of Western sanctions

Belarus and Iran, both under Western sanctions, announced plans to intensify bilateral cooperation during a meeting in Minsk on Wednesday.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian said they would begin work on a strategic partnership treaty covering multiple areas, including military-technical cooperation.

He made this statement at the meeting in Belarusian capital saying that the two nations are keen on strengthening their partnership.

According to Belta, the state news agency, Lukashenko said "In conditions of geopolitical turbulence, Minsk and Tehran are undertaking consistent and balanced steps to further develop cooperation. We ready to discuss any issues, we have no closed topics."

Lukashenko reaffirmed that the countries would expand collaboration in defence and other domains.

Belarus is facing sanctions for allowing Russia to use its territory as a base for launching military operations in Ukraine and is hosting Russian tactical nuclear weapons.

Iran for its part has supplied drones to Russia and signed a strategic agreement with President Vladimir Putin earlier this year, though the deal did not contain a mutual defence clause.

Pezeshkian told Lukashenko that Iran would share its experience in handling sanctions, stating that "Iran is ready to help Belarus neutralise such measures." He added that their shared political trust should now be translated into practical economic and cultural ties.

"Of course, our common views should be implemented in the economic and cultural spheres, in the development of tourism... and also... in the development of military-technical cooperation," Pezeshkian was quoted as saying.

The talks underscore both countries’ aim to deepen alliances beyond the West, using shared isolation as a platform for long-term strategic engagement.

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