An archive photo
The official visit of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, to the Republic of Belarus on 19-20 August is an important milestone on the path to deepening bilateral relations and expanding strategic cooperation between the two countries, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran Seyed Abbas Araghchi told BelTA on the eve of the Iranian president’s visit to Minsk. The foreign minister emphasized that this visit, as part of the ongoing political and diplomatic dialogue, provides a unique opportunity to sign key agreements in the economic, technological, and cultural spheres.
“With an eye toward the future, our shared experience of resisting external interference has forged an unbreakable bond between our two peoples. The wisdom of our leaders and the resilience of our citizens have brought us to the current level of cooperation. Possessing complementary potentials and similar worldviews, the partnership between Iran and Belarus is poised to reach new horizons,” the foreign minister of Iran said.
“Iran and Belarus have developed close cooperation in various fields over 33 years of diplomatic relations,” noted Seyed Abbas Araghchi. “Our economic cooperation continues to strengthen: in the last year alone, bilateral trade increased by over 14%. Holding seventeen rounds of the joint economic cooperation commission has created a solid foundation for deepening cooperation, and an eighteenth round is currently being planned.”
Seyed Abbas Araghchi went on saying: “We have forged new pathways for scientific and educational interaction, notably through a joint commission designed to benefit future generations. On the international stage, we collaborate within organizations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Eurasian Economic Union, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, forming a united front against unilateralism and upholding the principles of mutual respect and fair global governance.”
The Iranian foreign minister pointed out that the Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 26 April 1986, as one of the most shocking events in history, reminded the world of the devastating consequences of nuclear safety breaches. The reactor explosion near the town of Pripyat led to the release of radiation 400 times more powerful than the Hiroshima bombing. Belarus suffered the greatest damage as about 70% of the radioactive fallout fell on the territory of Belarus. This tragedy affected the lives of more than 2.2 million Belarusians, including 500,000 children, and its health consequences are still felt today, passed down from generation to generation. Iran, sharing the pain of the Belarusian people alongside the international community, watched this unimaginable ordeal with deep sorrow and once again emphasized the importance of nuclear safety and international cooperation to prevent such disasters.
Seyed Abbas Araghchi noted that, decades later, Iran also faced a nuclear trauma when its peaceful nuclear facilities – Fordow, Natanz, and Arak – came under attack. These reckless attacks on facilities under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency were not only a violation of international law but also a manifestation of dangerous disregard for human life and the environment. The threat of radioactive contamination revived painful memories of Chernobyl and laid a deep foundation of mutual understanding between the two peoples regarding the damages associated with nuclear energy and the importance of protecting peaceful nuclear programs.
“Our peoples are also united by a deep commitment to resisting external interference. The attempt to orchestrate a color revolution in Belarus in 2020, similar to Western attempts at regime change in other countries, was met with the same resolute resistance that Iran has demonstrated against external pressure for decades. History has repeatedly proven that such interventions, be it in Syria, Libya, or other regions, bring not democracy, but destruction.”
“Iran and Belarus, despite all challenges, have preserved the independence of their path because they understand well that genuine stability is rooted not in models imposed from the outside, but in national unity. Our shared history has become the foundation for the strengthening cooperation between the two countries,” Seyed Abbas Araghchi believes.
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