Iran, Belarus express readiness to strengthen transportation, energy partnerships

TEHRAN, 10 December (BelTA - IRNA) - During the visit of Belarusian Minister of Industry Andrei Kuzniatsou to Tehran, senior Iranian officials supported expanded cooperation between the two countries in transportation and energy, highlighting Iran’s extensive transit and investment capacities.

Kuzniatsou met with Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development Farzaneh Sadegh to discuss strengthening road, rail, sea, and air transport links. Referring to the successful 18th Joint Economic Commission between Iran and Belarus, Sadegh stated that Iran is ready to allocate areas in southern ports and the Aprin Dry Port to Belarus.

She added that a memorandum of understanding has been signed between the heads of the two countries’ railways, defining the eastern branch of the International North–South Transport Corridor via Incheh Borun and Sarakhs for rail freight.

Iran is prepared to handle bulk and container transit through its territory with competitive prices and minimal transit time, she said. Sadegh also expressed hope that the multimodal transport MoU between the Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran and the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Belarus will be signed during the Belarusian minister’s upcoming visit.

Sadegh noted that over the past 11 months, 1,059 road transits were carried out by Iranian fleets and 123 by Belarusian fleets, and Iran is ready to increase the traffic. She also emphasized that, following the abolition of the bilateral transit permit system in November, Belarus and Russia should implement the same measure at their shared borders. Iran is ready to establish weekly direct flights to support trade, she added.

During the visit, Kuzniatsou also met with Iran’s Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad. Paknejad highlighted Iran as a land of golden investment opportunities in oil and gas and said Iran has designed a portfolio of contracts for friendly countries.

The Belarusian minister expressed readiness to expand cooperation, particularly in petrochemicals and industrial exports.