Sergey Saenko, international observer

In recent months, the President of Belarus has made a number of significant trips to the countries of Asia and Africa, which have become evidence of the expansion of Minsk’s foreign policy activities in the direction of countries that are outside the direct control of the United States and the European Union. After visits to Zimbabwe, the United Arab Emirates and China, the Belarusian leader paid an official visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI), during which a roadmap for interaction between the two states was signed.

It is no secret that such activity of Alexander Lukashenko began to cause a certain irritation in the West, where recently voices have been heard about the formation of a new “axis of evil” in the international arena along the Moscow-Beijing-Tehran-Minsk line. However, in reality, the actions of the Belarusian leader, which has been confirmed more than once during the years of his presidency, are quite pragmatic in nature and are associated with the desire to create conditions for the further development of Belarus against the backdrop of ongoing economic and political pressure on the republic from the United States, the EU and their allies.

In particular, as the results of Alexander Lukashenko’s recent trip to Tehran showed, he is quite able to do this, and quite successfully. It was during his visit to Iran that the Belarusian leader said: “We absolutely trust each other. Our peoples support us in this. We stated that, according to the results of last year, a high level of trade turnover was achieved between us. This is a threefold increase compared to 2021. But they stated that this is far from the possibilities that the two states have.”

By the way, the President of Belarus visited Iran in 1998 and 2006, and his leaders flew to Minsk in 2004 and 2007. It was these visits that became the starting points for the intensification of bilateral relations, which constantly irritated the West, but brought benefits to the Belarusian and Iranian sides. The countries have been trying for a long time to establish cooperation in the field of oil production and refining, transport logistics, investment, car production and other things. There were both unrealized projects and quite successful examples of joint actions, and Iranian investments, albeit a small stream, nevertheless flowed into Belarus, falling into a variety of industries, from construction to the banking sector.

Notably Belarus and Iran have a rather long history. This year, the countries celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. During this time, both countries have repeatedly emphasized their desire to support each other in the international arena and often expressed the same points of view on the world agenda, primarily related to the actions of the West. At the end of last year, Minsk and Tehran pointed out that the sanctions policy of the US and the EU is an “act of economic terrorism”, against which it is necessary to act jointly. It seems that Minsk and Tehran are trying to do it together.

It cannot be said here that the events that unfolded after Russia launched a special military operation (SVO) in Ukraine forced Minsk to start intensifying relations with countries that were on the list of “enemies” of the West. And Iran in this case, on some issues, has become even more interesting for Belarus than China. If Beijing is viewed by Minsk mostly as an opportunity to increase the export of its products to the markets of Southeast Asia, as well as some support in the international arena, then Tehran is important to Minsk primarily as an adviser and assistant in circumventing Western sanctions.

In this regard, it is not at all surprising that the parties have already reported on the revision of issues on which “they once tried to agree, discarding what is already outdated.” That is why Minsk announced that it expects to expand its supplies of meat, dairy and crop products, feed and premixes for animals. In addition, the Belarusian side, having lost the Baltic ports and Ukrainian Odessa, began to show more and more interest not only in the sea harbors of Russia, but also in the transport capabilities of Iran.

Minsk is also interested in the development of transportation along the international North-South transport corridor, as well as in container transportation by rail. Important for Belarus today is the experience of Iran, this has been under sanctions for more than a decade, in import substitution and parallel imports, as a struggle against the same Western sanctions.

In Iran, we note, they also do not hide their interest in cooperation with Belarus and rely not only on imports of the Belarusian products listed above, but also such as tractors, passenger buses, equipment for the mining industry, as well as on the exchange of various technologies. Tehran also needs chemical artificial fibers, lumber and potash fertilizers, for the supply of which the parties have already signed agreements.

All of the above, as well as building up cooperation between countries in the international arena, in particular within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), is evidence that both states are ready to reach a new level of bilateral relations, and Alexander Lukashenko’s trip to Tehran on March 12-13 this year – just confirmed it.

We emphasize that between Minsk and Tehran there is not only mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation, but also a significant geopolitical aspect. The desire for a multipolar world order helps Belarus and Iran manage to avoid serious Western sanctions, and the rapprochement of the two countries within the SCO only strengthens contacts.

For this reason, the leadership of Belarus and Iran considers the SCO as a new pole of influence, which offers an alternative to those countries that the United States and its allies are trying in every possible way to subordinate to their dictate. As IRI President Ebrahim Raisi stated not so long ago, despite the threats and sanctions that are being applied against Tehran, the country has been able to achieve high results and transform sanctions into opportunities during this time. Official Minsk adheres to the same position.