Iran and Belarus have pledged to deepen bilateral cooperation and accelerate the implementation of existing agreements following a state visit by President Masoud Pezeshkian to his Belarusian counterpart, President Aleksandr Lukashenko, on August 20. 

The meeting marked the start of Pezeshkian’s official visit to Belarus, following his meetings in Armenia with the country's top leadership after Yerevan's recent signing of a historic new peace treaty backed by the US, retitled in honour of President Donald Trump. 

The two trips were allegedly pre-planned as part of Iran's growing integration with the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) following the implementation of a preferential trade agreement between Tehran and several former Soviet states in 2024, which includes Armenia and Belarus. 

The two leaders stressed their countries’ shared positions on regional and international issues, including opposition to Western sanctions and unilateralism, with Belarus ready to discuss any issues with Iran, ranging from cooperation in food supplies to the defence technology sector, Lukashenko said .

Pezeshkian described Iran and Belarus as aligned, calling for “serious cooperation” in international forums such as the  EEU, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), and BRICS.

“Today, the United States and some European countries are seeking to expand unilateralism and impose their views on others, which has not been tolerated by you and us,” Pezeshkian said during the bilateral talks.

He said Iran and Belarus are not inferior to nations that attempt to exert influence through sanctions, and that through earnest collaboration, they can effectively navigate and overcome such external pressures.

Embattled Lukashenko welcomed the Iranian delegation, describing Belarus as a “friendly country and reliable partner” for Iran, one of Minsk's few remaining allies. 

“You have been and remain our friends. We are committed to fulfilling all the obligations we have undertaken concerning Iran. You have come to your friends and should feel at home here. If there is any shortfall in meeting the terms we agreed upon, we will discuss these matters today in a frank and friendly conversation.” Belarusian state media Belta reported the president as saying. 

Both countries have become increasingly integrated in recent years, following the Russian war with Ukraine, using Belarus as a launching ground for attacks on Kyiv.

Iran has been previously accused of supplying both Russia and Belarus with Shahed drones and ammunition in the more than two-year war with the Western-backed Ukrainian government. 

The presidents were scheduled to lead high-level delegations in expanded-format talks, followed by a signing ceremony for bilateral cooperation documents. A joint press conference was expected to conclude the day’s engagements.

According to Iranian statistics, in 2024, Tehran exported about $20mn worth of goods to Belarus, and imported around $60mn from Belarus, resulting in approximately $80mn in direct trade for that year. For the ten months between March 2024 and January 2025, Iran exported commodities valued at $16.5mn to Belarus, Tehran Times reported.