Belarus, Iran Interested in Developing Military Cooperation

Major General Andrey Lukyanovich, Chief of the Air Force and Air Defense Command of Belarus’ Armed Forces, discussed defense cooperation with senior Iranian military officials during his working visit to Tehran.

In a meeting on August 7, Iran’s Army Chief, Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, stated that “Belarus holds a strategic position as a strong barrier against NATO” and emphasized that “we, along with regional countries, oppose the expansion of NATO,” according to Iran’s Press TV.

Mousavi noted that political and military officials from both countries are committed to enhancing their cooperation. He highlighted that one of the main goals of the bilateral commissions is to find “appropriate ways to counter America’s unilateralism.”

Regarding military cooperation, Mousavi pointed out the shared challenges posed by sanctions and suggested that both countries could benefit from exchanging experiences to bolster their defense capabilities.

He also expressed gratitude for Belarus’ principled stance on the assassination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed on July 31 in Tehran after attending the swearing-in ceremony of Iran’s newly elected President, Masoud Pezeshkian.

In response, Lukyanovich expressed a strong interest in deepening military relations and sharing experiences. He also voiced opposition to America’s alleged unilateralism and NATO’s expansion and extended an invitation for Mousavi to visit Belarus to observe their defense capabilities.

Lukyanovich further met with his Iranian counterpart, Brigadier General Hamid Vahedi, to discuss regional security and military cooperation. Vahedi emphasized the importance of maintaining defense readiness and advancing military equipment, saying, “we have no other choice to defend our country and territorial integrity except by maintaining defense readiness and developing military equipment.”

Vahedi offered to expand mutual defense and military relations and share Iran’s expertise in military equipment production with its allies. Lukyanovich appreciated this offer and underscored the significance of enhancing defense and military ties between the two nations.

The Belarusian delegation also visited several military installations and the University of Aeronautical Engineering of Iran’s Air Force during their trip.

On August 1, an Iranian defense ministry delegation led by Jawad Ghazanfarnia, Chief of the Main Directorate of Construction Projects, arrived in Minsk to discuss bilateral engineering projects with Pavel Mikhalaw, Head of the Engineering Troops Department at the Belarusian General Staff.

Relations between Belarus and Iran have intensified since Alexander Lukashenko’s visit to Tehran in March 2023, where they negotiated a roadmap for comprehensive cooperation through 2026. In July 2023, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktar Khrenin and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Reza Ashtiani signed a memorandum on military cooperation.

Iranian Deputy Defense Minister Seyed Ghalandari visited Minsk in February 2024, and Mehdi Jafari, Deputy Defense Minister and Rector of the Malek Ashtar University of Technology, visited the Belarusian capital in April. At a Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting in Astana on April 27, Belarusian Defense Minister Khrenin expressed readiness to “develop and strengthen” cooperation with Tehran amid international sanctions.

In early May, a Belarusian military delegation participated in a counter-terrorism drill in Iran as part of the Security Belt 2024 exercise, led by Alyaksandr Bas, Head of the Main Directorate for Combat Training of the Armed Forces of Belarus.

Additionally, in mid-May, Iran appointed a new military attaché to Belarus for the first time in over 30 years. This move, positioning Iranian military presence near the EU and Ukraine borders, is likely to alarm NATO, given Iran’s role in the Russia-Ukraine war with its drones and weapons.

Both Iran and Belarus have faced accusations of supporting Russia in its war against Ukraine. Ukrainian media reported in May 2023 that Russia was exploring the possibility of manufacturing Iranian drones in Belarus.

Western nations have criticized Tehran for its support of Russia in the Ukrainian conflict, particularly regarding kamikaze drones. Concurrently, Minsk allowed Russia to launch part of its invasion from Belarusian territory, providing a direct land route to Kyiv. The situation along the Belarus-Ukraine border remains tense, with Ukraine closing border checkpoints leading into Belarus.