TEHRAN (Iran News) Rostami appreciated the Belarusian officials’ concern regarding the Elit region of Chalous in Mazandaran.

Mazandaran will use the capabilities of this country and its firefighting aircraft, if necessary, he added

The firefighting aircraft has been arranged to be dispatched from Turkey to Mazandaran through negotiations, he noted.

Meanwhile, earlier, Shina Ansari, Iran’s Vice President and Head of the Department of Environment, said Mazandaran will also ask for help from Russia to control the Chalous forest fire, he stressed.

The firefighting operation in the forest of Elit village in Marzanabad, Chalous County, continues with the participation of Red Crescent and IRGC helicopters, as well as the deployment of specialized teams, local people, and volunteers who are environmental and nature lovers, Rostami said.

Elit forests in Marzanabad have experienced fire in two stages. The first stage occurred on November 1, 2025, and was eventually extinguished after several days of efforts by emergency forces.

The second stage of the fire in the Elit forests broke out on November 15. Despite the deployment of three helicopters and the efforts of emergency teams and local people, a significant portion of the fire in these forests has been contained, with only a small area still burning.

The firefighting aircraft has been arranged to be dispatched from Turkey to Mazandaran through negotiations, he noted.

Meanwhile, earlier, Shina Ansari, Iran’s Vice President and Head of the Department of Environment, said Mazandaran will also ask for help from Russia to control the Chalous forest fire, he stressed.

The firefighting operation in the forest of Elit village in Marzanabad, Chalous County, continues with the participation of Red Crescent and IRGC helicopters, as well as the deployment of specialized teams, local people, and volunteers who are environmental and nature lovers, Rostami said.

Elit forests in Marzanabad have experienced fire in two stages. The first stage occurred on November 1, 2025, and was eventually extinguished after several days of efforts by emergency forces.

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TEHRAN (Iran News) Iran’s Minister of Defense says the Islamic Republic welcomes the expansion of defense and industrial cooperation with independent nations.

Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh and the visiting Chairman of the State Committee for Military Industry of Belarus, Dmitry Pantus, held talks in Tehran on Thursday.

During the meeting, the Iranian Defense Minister expressed satisfaction with the growing trend of relations between Tehran and Minsk.

He emphasized that the Islamic Republic welcomes the enhancement of defense and industrial ties with friendly and independent countries.

The two sides examined avenues for developing their bilateral cooperation in defense, technical, and industrial fields.

Both sides expressed readiness to formulate a roadmap for future cooperation and to accelerate the implementation of joint projects.

The Belarusian official, for his part, acknowledged Iran’s extensive capacities in industrial and technological spheres.

Pantus stressed his country’s desire to upgrade cooperation in the fields of research and development, the production of defense equipment, and the exchange of industrial expertise.

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TEHRAN (Iran News)  Lukashenko made the comments on Saturday at a ceremony honoring farmers in the country’s Grodno Region. Speaking about Western sanctions imposed on Belarus, he recalled that in July, Minsk expanded its visa-free regime to include the citizens of 35 European countries, allowing more Westerners to see the country for themselves.

“Already about a million people have been able to see with their own eyes that there really is a dictatorship in Belarus,” he said, according to Belta news agency. He clarified that this is “a dictatorship of stability, security, order, kindness and hospitality. A dictatorship of justice.”

Lukashenko said that foreigners were “gladly” visiting Belarus “despite the lies” being spread about the country in the West. Visitors see that it is a “clean, safe and comfortable country,” he added.

The Belarusian leader has denied accusations of corruption by foreign critics and announced in February that he would seek a seventh term in office in the country’s presidential election in January. He has previously said he would end his 30 years in power “once you [the people] tell me ‘enough’ in some form” and as long as there was a successor “who would not betray” the country’s interests.

Belarus has been under Western sanctions for years over alleged human rights violations. One of Russia’s closest allies, the country has also faced harsh new restrictions imposed by the US and EU over the Ukraine conflict. While Belarus is not directly involved in fighting, Minsk allowed Moscow to use its territory in February 2022 when Russia resorted to military action against Kiev.

The sanctions cover a range of economic sectors, including a ban on the transfer of military technology and dual-use goods to the country. EU companies are also banned from providing insurance services to Belarusian authorities and Minsk has had its access to EU financial markets limited. Belarus has denounced the sanctions as illegal and unjustified.

Lukashenko has insisted that Ukraine “will not prevail” on the battlefield and that the West “realizes this now,” urging Kiev’s biggest backers to stop referring to Russia as the sole culprit in the conflict and to focus on diplomacy instead.

He has also expressed doubt that either of the US presidential election candidates, Trump or Harris, will do much to end the fighting, calling them both “idiots.”

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TEHRAN (Iran News) –Iran’s national beach soccer team showcased their prowess in the UAE World Cup 2024 ranking match against Belarus, securing a decisive 6-1 victory, coming third in the world.

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The MOU on the oil cooperation was signed by Iranian Oil Minister Javad Oji and Belarus’s Belneftekhim Chairman Andrei Rybakov on the sidelines of a meeting between Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber and Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko.

Based on the MOU, Iran will export technical and engineering services, oil equipment, and petrochemical products to Belarus, and the two countries will cooperate in the technology-related fields and use a barter system to trade.

During his meeting with Golovchenko, Mokhber said the expansion of Tehran-Minsk relations over the past two years is expected to serve the two nations’ economic and commercial interests, as well.

The first vice president added that the two countries’ trade volume could increase to $1 billion per year.

Cooperation in agriculture sector

Three cooperation documents were also inked between Iran and Belarus in the fields of forestry, veterinary medicine and animal husbandry, Iran’s minister of agriculture said on Wednesday.

Mohammad-Ali Nikbakht, who accompanied Mohammad Mokhber on his visit to Belarus, said the two countries enjoy high potentials and capabilities to boost their ties in all fields, especially trade, economy, forestry, and animal husbandry.

Iran’s major portion of potash fertilizer is supplied from Belarus, the agricultural minister said, adding, “In return, Iran exports agricultural and horticultural products including fresh fruits and vegetables, and various kinds of dried nuts and citrus fruits.”

Mokhber visited Belarus on Tuesday at the head of a high-ranking trade and economic delegation and at the official invitation of the prime minister of Belarus to discuss bilateral ties and issues of mutual interest.

Oil Minister Javad Oji, Industry, Mining, and Trade Minister Abbas Ali-Abadi, and Agriculture Minister Mohammad-Ali Nikbakht accompanied Mokhber during a one-day visit to Belarus.

Iran and Belarus signed a comprehensive cooperation roadmap and seven memorandums of understanding in mid-March, as Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko made a visit to Tehran.

The cooperation roadmap and MOUs include various commercial, transportation, agricultural and cultural fields.

The roadmap was signed by the presidents of the two countries, while the MOUs were inked by senior officials from the two sides.

Speaking at a joint press conference with his Belarusian counterpart after signing the document, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said: “Good agreements were made in the field of industry, mining, trade, agriculture, roads and various fields, and we hope that it will be a step towards the development of the two countries.”

Referring to the determination of Iran and Belarus to develop relations in all fields, Raisi said: “Both countries are against unilateralism. We believe that independent countries can have good relations with each other which lead to the neutralization of sanctions.”

Lukashenko, for his part, pointed to his last visit to Iran in 2006 and said that no sanctions or pressures have been able to stop the Iranian nation from progressing, and it is a fact that an independent and strong Iran is continuing its path.

Referring to the MOUs between the two countries, Lukashenko noted that if all these MOUs are implemented, the two countries can achieve $100 million of annual trade.

“The volume of trade between the two countries tripled in 2022 compared to 2021,” he noted.

The Belarusian president expressed hope that the implementation of the comprehensive cooperation roadmap will help develop the relations between the two countries even more.

As part of the Belarusian delegation’s schedule in Tehran, the country’s Minister of Industry Rogozhnik Alexander Nikolaevich met with former Iranian Industry, Mining, and Trade Minister Reza Fatemi-Amin to discuss ways of developing mutual ties.

During the meeting with Nikolaevich, who was accompanied by a group of industrial officials, Fatemi-Amin referred to the cooperation of the Export Guarantee Fund of Iran (EGFI) with its Belarusian counterpart and also an agreement between banks of the two countries, emphasizing that the infrastructure needed for the development of trade between the two countries has been created.

He stated that an agreement on the possibility of barter trade between the two countries is also going to be signed soon, adding: “With the full accession of Iran to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) in less than a year from now 80 percent of the tariffs between the two countries will be zeroed.

The minister further invited Nikolaevich and his team to visit the exhibition of Iran’s export capabilities, which will be held with the presence of ministers and trade delegations from more than 50 countries in Tehran on May 7-10.

Nikolaevich in his turn said Belarus pays special attention to the expansion of trade relations with Iran.

“In the days when both countries have been subjected to heavy and cruel sanctions, we must make a double effort to defeat the sanctions,” Nikolaevich suggested.

Stating that with Iran’s joining the EAEU, many issues in the field of transportation will be resolved, he emphasized: “Our goal is for Iranian products to flourish in the Belarusian market and Belarusian products to enter the Iranian market.”

EF/MA

Photo: Iranian Oil Minister Javad Oji (L) and Belarus’s Belneftekhim Chairman Andrei Rybakov sign MOU documents in Minsk on Tuesday

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The document was inked by Iranian Minister of Industry, Mining and Trade Abbas Ali-Abadi, and Belarussian Minister of Industry Rogozhnik Alexander Nikolaevich at the end of the 16th meeting of Iran-Belarus Joint Economic Committee in Tehran.

During the meeting, which was attended by senior Iranian and Belarussian officials, the two sides discussed the ways to expand cooperation in different economic and trade fields, including export and import of agricultural products and equipment, mining machinery, public transportation, medicine and medical equipment, and petrochemicals.

Mehdi Zeyghami, the head of Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization (TPO), was also present in the meeting.

The 15th Iran-Belarus Joint Economic Committee meeting was held in late July 2022 in Minsk.

Iran and Belarus signed a comprehensive cooperation roadmap and seven memorandums of understanding in mid-March, as Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko made a visit to Tehran.

The cooperation roadmap and MOUs include various commercial, transportation, agricultural and cultural fields.

The roadmap was signed by the presidents of the two countries, while the MOUs were inked by senior officials from the two sides.

Speaking at a joint press conference with his Belarusian counterpart after signing the document, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said: “Good agreements were made in the field of industry, mining, trade, agriculture, roads and various fields, and we hope that it will be a step towards the development of the two countries.”

Referring to the determination of Iran and Belarus to develop relations in all fields, Raisi said: “Both countries are against unilateralism. We believe that independent countries can have good relations with each other which lead to the neutralization of sanctions.”

Lukashenko, for his part, pointed to his last visit to Iran in 2006 and said that no sanctions or pressures have been able to stop the Iranian nation from progressing, and it is a fact that an independent and strong Iran is continuing its path.

Referring to the MOUs between the two countries, Lukashenko noted that if all these MOUs are implemented, the two countries can achieve $100 million of annual trade.

“The volume of trade between the two countries tripled in 2022 compared to 2021,” he noted.

The Belarusian president expressed hope that the implementation of the comprehensive cooperation roadmap will help develop the relations between the two countries even more.

As part of the Belarusian delegation’s schedule in Tehran, the country’s Minister of Industry Rogozhnik Alexander Nikolaevich met with former Iranian Industry, Mining, and Trade Minister Reza Fatemi-Amin on Monday to discuss ways of developing mutual ties.

During the meeting with Nikolaevich, who was accompanied by a group of industrial officials, Fatemi-Amin referred to the cooperation of the Export Guarantee Fund of Iran (EGFI) with its Belarusian counterpart and also an agreement between banks of the two countries, emphasizing that the infrastructure needed for the development of trade between the two countries has been created.

He stated that an agreement on the possibility of barter trade between the two countries is also going to be signed soon, adding: “With the full accession of Iran to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) in less than a year from now 80 percent of the tariffs between the two countries will be zeroed.

The minister further invited Nikolaevich and his team to visit the exhibition of Iran’s export capabilities, which will be held with the presence of ministers and trade delegations from more than 50 countries in Tehran on May 7-10.

Nikolaevich in his turn said Belarus pays special attention to the expansion of trade relations with Iran.

“In the days when both countries have been subjected to heavy and cruel sanctions, we must make a double effort to defeat the sanctions,” Nikolaevich suggested.

Stating that with Iran’s joining the EAEU, many issues in the field of transportation will be resolved, he emphasized: “Our goal is for Iranian products to flourish in the Belarusian market and Belarusian products to enter the Iranian market.”

In his joint press conference with the Belarusian leader after a meeting at the Saadabad Palace, Raisi asserted that the Islamic Republic has capitalized on the threat of unilateral sanctions as a chance to advance significantly.

“Iran has benefited from the sanctions put on the country, and we have achieved remarkable advances despite the threats,” Raisi said.

He added, “We are eager to share our experiences with our good friend Belarus.”

Raisi also said the only way to overcome sanctions and advance is mutual opposition to unilateralism.

Lukashenko, for his part, stated that “Iran is flourishing and Iran keeps growing despite sanctions and pressure. The signing of several documents today can result in a 100 million dollars increase in commerce between the two nations if they are fully implemented.”

The president of Belarus continued, “Sanctions are opportunities, and two nations should not lose these possibilities.”

He remarked that both nations have a desire for a fair and multipolar world and that their stances on international and regional issues are comparable.

Also, in late April, the former head of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) said that the private sectors of Iran and Belarus have significant capacities for cooperation.

Gholam-Hossein Shafeie made the remarks in a meeting with Belarusian Ambassador to Tehran Dmitry Koltsov at the place of ICCIMA.

The ICCIMA former head described the cooperation capacities of the private sectors of the two countries, especially in the field of technical and engineering services, agriculture, and tripartite cooperation with neighbors as significant and a necessity for the development of bilateral relations.

Referring to the positive economic interactions between Iran and Belarus in the past years, Shafeie said Belarus is one of Iran’s priorities in establishing business relations. Because this country has had a favorable economic situation and GDP growth in the past years, and the existing capacities of the country can help in the development of bilateral cooperation.

The Belarusian ambassador for his part said that Iran and Belarus have long-standing relations, and in recent years, delegations have been exchanged at different levels between the two countries.

He considered transportation to be one of the primary and important fields in Iran-Belarus trade relations.

The envoy further said Khorasan Razavi province (in the northeast of Iran) has considerable capacity in this field due to its geographical location. This province has good potential in the field of machine building, agricultural equipment, food industry, and electronic devices.

MA

Photo: Iranian Minister of Industry, Mining and Trade Abbas Ali-Abadi (R), and Belarussian Minister of Industry Rogozhnik Alexander Nikolaevich 

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Shafei called for boosting economic cooperation with Belarus in meeting with Belarusian Ambassador to Iran Dmitry Koltsov meet in Mashhad, on Sunday.

Shafei called for the need for more enhanced cooperation between private sector actors of Iran and Belarus, particularly in the area of agriculture and techno-engineering.

He said that it is a top priority of Iran to expand trade ties with Belarus as the country has made significant growth in its GDP and other economic indicators.

Development of Belarusian infrastructure, including roads, bridges and dams has been on the agenda of the country over the past years, Shafei said, adding that Iran enjoys good techno-engineering potentials which can be used for further cooperation between the two nations.

He also said that a recent visit to Iran by the Belarusian president opened a new chapter in relations between the two countries when they sign seven cooperation documents.

The Iran Chamber of Commerce also renewed the call for forming a joint committee of commerce between Iran and Belarus.

Shafei also pointed to the exceptional geographical location of Khorasan Razavi Province and termed it one of the provinces with high potentials for broadening economic ties with Belarus.

He also announced readiness of the chamber for exchanging trade delegations especially for broadening bilateral cooperation with Khorasan Razavi.

The Belarusian ambassador, for his part, referred to longstanding relations between the two countries, adding that both sides have been exchanging different delegations over the past years.

Ambassador Koltsov said that transportation is of special significance in Tehran-Minsk trade ties, adding that given its geographic position, the northeastern Iranian province of Khorasan Razavi has huge potentials for promotion of transportation.

He also invited the president of Iran Chamber of Commerce to pay a visit to his country to discuss forming a joint committee of commerce.

Noting that trade exchanges between Iran and Belarus more than tripled last year, the ambassador underlined the need for further economic cooperation between the two countries.

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The Belarus minister on Monday met with President Seyed Ebrahim Raisi while his delegation was busy with signing agreements foe boosting all-out bilateral ties.

In the meeting, President Raisi described the relations between Iran and Belarus as good and constructive in the past 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and emphasized the use of existing capacities to accelerate the strengthening of relations between the two countries.

He also said that the use of the capacity of regional treaties such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Eurasian Economic Union is effective in increasing economic relations between the two countries and other independent countries.

Raisi also emphasized the implementation of the agreements between Iran and Belarus until the results are achieved and its economic benefits become tangible for the two nations.

Lukashenko, in turn, described Iran as one of the advanced countries in the field of civilization and economy, calling for more cooperation between the two countries in various fields of industry, agriculture, transportation and technology.

The President of Belarus also referred to the slow development of economic cooperation between Iran and Belarus in the past years and praised the acceleration of the development of relations between the two countries in the government of Raisi.

Speaking at the joint press conference with his Belarusian counterpart, Raisi said, “Good agreements were made in the field of industry, mining, trade, agriculture, roads and various fields, and we hope that it will be a step towards the development of the two countries.”

The President said, “Today, after 30 years of friendly relations, the Islamic Republic of Iran and Belarus have designed a comprehensive road map for the development of their strategic relations in various fields, which will definitely lead to a different future.”

Raisi added, “This roadmap, based on the conditions and capacities of Iran and Belarus, will clarify the path of the two countries for cooperation in political, economic and cultural fields.”

In another part of his speech, the President stated, “Despite the threats and sanctions, the Islamic Republic of Iran has been able to take great steps towards progress and create opportunities for itself from the sanctions.”

Raisi added, “Iran is ready to share its experiences in this regard with Belarus as a friendly country.”

Referring to the valuable agreements between Iran and Belarus in various fields, especially in the fields of industry, mining, trade, agriculture and roads, the President expressed hope that the adherence and implementation of these agreements will strengthen the relations between the two countries and secure the interests of the two nations.

“In addition to bilateral relations, the Islamic Republic of Iran is determined to improve its relations with Belarus within the framework of regional and extra-regional organizations, and in this regard, fruitful negotiations have been held between the two sides,” he noted.

“We can have very good cooperation with each other by using the capacity of Shanghai and Eurasian Union organisations and develop these cooperation based on common positions and interests,” Raisi said.

Referring to the fundamental measures taken by the 13th Administration to develop Tehran-Minsk relations, the President said, “In the past year and a half, fundamental steps have been taken to improve the level of cooperation between Iran and Belarus, and our commercial and economic conditions today cannot be compared to before.”

Raisi pointed out, “Both countries are against unilateralism and we believe that effective and constructive communication between independent countries is the way to neutralize the sanctions and, considering the good capacities of these countries, become the basis for the progress of nations.”

Lukashenko, for his part, pointed to his last visit to Iran in 2006 and said that no sanctions or pressures have been able to stop the Iranian nation from progressing, and it is a fact that an independent and strong Iran is continuing its path.

Referring to the signed memorandums of understanding between Iran and Belarus, Lukashenko noted that if all these MoUs will be implemented, the two countries can reach the $100 million trade exchange. “The volume of trade between the two countries has tripled in 2022 compared to 2021.”

The two countries have a similar view about international and regional issues, he added, saying that Tehran and Minsk want to build a better and homogeneous world.

He went on to say, “The two countries have very good scientific and technical achievements, and I think these initiatives and plans should reach the commercial stage in the future. Our cooperation with Iran continues in various fields, including humanitarian, and will be developed in the parliamentary field as well.”

The Belarusian president expressed hope that the implementation of the comprehensive program of cooperation would help to develop the relations between the two countries even more.

Raisi and Lukashenko signed the roadmap for comprehensive cooperation between Iran and Belarus during a ceremony.

Also, in the presence of Raisi and Lukashenko, the senior officials of Iran and Belarus signed the cooperation documents of the two countries in various commercial, transportation, agricultural, cultural and artistic fields, the transfer of convicts and the executive program document on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of relations between the two countries.

These documents were signed by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Industry, Agriculture, Roads and Urban Development and Justice with their Belarusian counterparts.

Iranian President Raisi officially welcomed his Belarusian counterpart, r Lukashenko, on Monday morning.

Heading a high-ranking delegation, Lukashenko arrived in Tehran on Sunday evening.

This is Lukashenko’s third visit to Iran. His previous visit took place in 2006. The two presidents met in September 2022 in Samarkand, on the sidelines of the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

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