Belarus–Iran relations

Last updated
Belarus-Iran relations
Belarus Iran Locator.png
Flag of Belarus.svg
Belarus
Flag of Iran.svg
Iran
Embassy of Iran in Minsk Embassy of Iran in Belarus -- Posol'stvo Irana v Belarusi 1.jpg
Embassy of Iran in Minsk

The Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic recognized de facto the Islamic Republic of Iran in February 1979, and Belarus and Iran established de jure diplomatic relations in 1992. Belarus has an embassy in Tehran. Iran has an embassy in Minsk.

Contents

The two countries have enjoyed good relations in recent years reflected in regular high level meetings and various agreements. In 2008, Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergei Martynov described Iran as an important partner of his country in the region and the world. [1] Both Iran and Belarus are considered allies of Russia.

Agreements

In July 2004, an Iran-Belarus joint economic commission meeting was held and an agreement was signed on bolstering mutual economic cooperation. [2]

In April 2006, the two countries signed a number of economic and trade agreements. [3]

In November 2006, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko visited Tehran and signed agreements to expand bilateral cooperation and reaffirmed Belarus' support of Iran's nuclear efforts. [4] [5]

2007 meeting

In May 2007, the two countries signed cooperation accords, following a meeting of Belarusian President Lukashenko and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. They signed a joint communique on the results of the visit to Belarus by the President Ahmadinejad. [6] [7]

President Lukashenko said that Belarus and Iran have removed all the impediments to the bilateral trade. [8] President Ahmadinejad said "from now on Belarusian-Iranian relations will develop to ensure stability and security in the world." [9]

Trade

In 2008, Belarus-Iran trade made $93.8 million (23.6% up), with Belarus’ export as high as $83.7 million (25.8% up), import — $10.2 million (8.3% up). The foreign trade surplus totaled $73.5 million. Belarus’ main exports are potash fertilizers, synthetic fibers, synthetic fiber cords, while the main imports are cars, grape, spare parts for automobiles and tractors. [10]

In 2008, Iranian investments in Belarus amounted to $13.1 million, including $9.9 million in direct investments. [10] In 2010, Iran inaugurated a large copper wire factory and the second phase of Samand car assembly line in Belarus. [11]

Belarus and Iran claim that they can raise the mutual trade turnover up to $1 billion, said Iranian Commerce Minister Masoud Mir-Kazemi as he met with Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky. [10] Currently the two countries' trade value stands at $3.250 billion. [11]

Military cooperation

It has been reported that Belarus has exported tanks, armored personnel carriers, and heavy artillery to Iran. [4]

In January 2007, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding for defence.[ citation needed ]

In 2009, it was reported that Belarus was selling Russian-made Iskander-M tactical missile systems to Iran [12]

Energy

In May 2007, Iran granted Belarus greater access to oil reserves following a meeting of the two presidents. what Belarusian President Lukashenko called a "strategic partnership." Iran gave Belarus long-discussed access to the Jofeir oil field, which is near the Iraq border and could produce up to 30,000 barrels a day once operational. Lukashenko said the crude from Jofeir would either be refined in Iran or simply extracted by Belarus and sold on world markets. It would be the first energy project abroad for Belarus. [13] [14]

In May 2009, Belarus Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Semashko met Vice Governor of the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran Reza Raei. [15] Following this meeting, the Central Bank of Iran announced it will lend $212m to Belarus' state-run firm Belarusneft for the development of the Jofeir oil field [16]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foreign relations of Belarus</span> Overview of the foreign relations of Belarus

The Byelorussian SSR was one of only two Soviet republics to be separate members of the United Nations. Both republics and the Soviet Union joined the UN when the organization was founded in 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Lukashenko</span> President of Belarus since 1994

Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko is a Belarusian politician who has held the presidency of Belarus since the office's establishment on 20 July 1994, making him the longest-serving European president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belarus–United States relations</span> Bilateral relations

Interstate relations between the United States and Belarus began in 1991 upon the dissolution of the Soviet Union, of which Belarus had been a part. However, the relations have turned sour due to accusations by the United States that Belarus has been violating human rights. Belarus, in turn, has accused the United States of interfering in its internal affairs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belarus–European Union relations</span> Bilateral relations

Mutual relations between the Republic of Belarus and the European Union (EU) were initially established after the European Economic Community recognised Belarusian independence in 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iran–Venezuela relations</span> Bilateral relations

Iran–Venezuela relations have strengthened substantially in recent years. "Iran and Venezuela are two friendly and united states which pave their ways to further progress and welfare for their nations", according to President Rouhani. The two countries are contemporary strategic allies of the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China while opposing U.S. hegemony in their respective regions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belarus–Russia relations</span> Bilateral relations

Belarus and Russia share a land border and constitute the supranational Union State. Several treaties have been concluded between the two nations bilaterally. Russia is Belarus' largest and most important economic and political partner. Both are members of various international organizations, including the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Eurasian Economic Union, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, and the United Nations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belarus–Serbia relations</span> Bilateral relations

On December 31, 1991, SFR Yugoslavia recognized Belarus by the decision on the recognition of the former republics of the USSR.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belarus–Ukraine relations</span> Bilateral relations

Belarus and Ukraine are both are full members of the Baku Initiative and Central European Initiative. In 2020, during the Belarusian protests against president Lukashenko, the relationship between Ukraine and Belarus began to deteriorate, after the Ukrainian government criticized Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko. In the waning days of 2021, the relationship between both countries rapidly deteriorated, culminating in a full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022. Belarus has allowed the stationing of Russian troops and equipment in its territory and its use as a springboard for offensives into northern Ukraine but has denied the presence of Belarusian troops in Ukraine. Even though part of the Russian invasion was launched from Belarus, Ukraine did not break off diplomatic relations with Belarus, but remain frozen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belarus–Latvia relations</span> Bilateral relations

Currently, Belarus has an embassy in Riga, while Latvia has an embassy in Minsk. The countries share 161 km as it relates to their common border. In May 2021 the relations were de facto terminated as both countries were expelling each other's diplomats of the corresponding embassy, Latvia was insisting to use an inaccurate opposition flag as a representation for Belarus in the Ice Hockey World Championship in Riga over the Ryanair Flight 4978 diplomatic row. Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei called Latvia's move 'an act of international vandalism' and called for an apology and return the legal green, red and white flag to its original place. The Belarusian government reacted with expelling every Latvian diplomat including the Ambassador inside the country, with Latvia following with the same response. The Zurich-based International Ice Hockey Federation sided with Belarus and asked the mayor of Riga to urgently take down the IIHF flags to protest to what the body called a political gesture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belarus–Lithuania relations</span> Bilateral relations

Belarus and Lithuania established diplomatic relations on 24 October 1991, shortly after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The two countries share 680 kilometres (420 mi) of common border. Lithuania's border with Belarus is the country's longest border. For Belarus it is its 3rd-longest border.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Azerbaijan–Belarus relations</span> Bilateral relations

Relations between Azerbaijan and Belarus are at very high level that Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko describes Azerbaijan as a "saver" of independence and sovereignty of Belarus and adds that "there's not anything close" in Azerbaijani-Belarusian relations. Both countries were part of the Russian Empire until 1918 and before 1991, they were part of the Soviet Union. Azerbaijan has an embassy in Minsk and Belarus has an embassy in Baku. Both countries are full members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Azerbaijan is a full member of the Council of Europe, Belarus is a candidate. Both Azerbaijan and Belarus are full members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). There are more than 6,000 Azerbaijanis living in Belarus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belarus–Israel relations</span> Bilateral relations

Belarus and Israel established diplomatic relations in 1992. In 1947, Belarus voted in favor for the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine. Belarus operates an embassy in Tel Aviv, while Israel operates an embassy in Minsk. Around 130,000 Belarusian citizens immigrated to Israel during the 1990s under the Law of Return.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belarus–Turkmenistan relations</span> Bilateral relations

Belarus has an embassy in Ashgabat. Turkmenistan has an embassy in Minsk. Both countries are full members of the UN, and the OSCE. Belarus is a full member and Turkmenistan is associated with the CIS. Currently, the ambassador of Turkmenistan to Belarus is Murad Yazberdyev. The Belarusian Ambassador to Turkmenistan is Oleg Tabanyuhov.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belarus–Uzbekistan relations</span> Bilateral relations

Diplomatic relations between Belarus and Uzbekistan were established on 21 January 1993, with the Belarusian Embassy in Tashkent being opened in February 1994. Uzbekistan also has an embassy in Minsk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belarus–Libya relations</span> Bilateral relations

Belarus and Libya established diplomatic relations in 1992. Belarus has an embassy in Tripoli. Libya has an embassy in Minsk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brazil–Iran relations</span> Bilateral relations

Brazil–Iran relations are the bilateral relations between the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Islamic Republic of Iran. Relations are characterized by economic and diplomatic cooperation and are quite friendly. Iran has a productive trade balance with Brazil. The two governments signed a document to bolster cooperation during the G-15 Summit in Tehran in 2010. However, since the election of former Brazilian president, Dilma Rousseff, relations between the two countries recently have deteriorated greatly, following Rousseff shifting Brazil away from Iran due to Iran's violation of human and civil rights. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's media adviser, Ali Akbar Javanfekr, was quoted as stating that Rousseff had "destroyed years of good relations" between them. He denied making such a statement.

Belarus Space Agency, officially known as National Agency for Space Research is a governmental body that coordinates all Belarus space research programs with scientific and commercial goals. It was established in 2009. It is closely associated with the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, which was responsible for Belarusian space travel until the foundation of the Belarus Space Agency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bangladesh–Belarus relations</span> Bilateral relations

The Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic recognized Bangladesh's independence on 24 January 1972 and official diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and Belarus were established in 1992. Neither country has a resident ambassador.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belarus–Iraq relations</span> Bilateral relations

Belarus does not have an embassy in Baghdad, but it does maintain a consulate in Erbil. Iraq has an embassy in Minsk. The last Ambassador of Iraq to Belarus was Haidar Hadi who served from July 2010 to November 2015. Since his post expired, there has been no Iraqi Ambassador in Belarus. Both are members of the Non-Aligned Movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belarus–Germany relations</span> Bilateral relations

Germany has an embassy in Minsk. Belarus has an embassy in Berlin, a consulate general in Munich, and two honorary consulates in Cottbus and Hamburg.

References

  1. "Tehran Times" . Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  2. "Apps - Access My Library - Gale" . Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  3. "Belarus, Iran Sign Economic Contracts". Archived from the original on October 16, 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  4. 1 2 Iran, Belarus Sign Cooperation Agreements Radio Free Europe - 7 November 2006
  5. "Apps - Access My Library - Gale" . Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  6. Makhovsky, Andrei (May 22, 2007). "Iran, Belarus to stand together against critics". Reuters via www.reuters.com.
  7. "Iran/Belarus: Lukashenka In Tehran For High-Level Talks". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  8. Alexander Lukashenko: Belarus, Iran removed all impediments to trade Archived July 20, 2011, at the Wayback Machine National Legal Internet Portal of Republic of Belarus - 22 May 2007
  9. "Iran President: Belarus, Iran will not succumb to pressure exerted by other states /Extended/ - Politics / News / Belarus News | Belarusian news | Belarus today | news in Belarus | Minsk news | BELTA - Belarus News | Belarusian news | Belarus today | news in Belarus | Minsk news | BELTA". Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2009-05-15.
  10. 1 2 3 http://www.government.by/en/eng_dayevents20090213.html%5B%5D
  11. 1 2 "Iran launches copper wire, car production units in Belarus". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  12. "Tehran Times". 9 May 2009. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  13. "Nation & World | Belarus forges deal to tap Iranian oilfield | Seattle Times Newspaper". Archived from the original on 2009-05-25. Retrieved 2009-05-14.
  14. http://www.moscowtimes.ru/article/852/49/194549.htm%5B%5D
  15. Belarus plans to enhance joint project on oil production in Jofeir field Archived June 5, 2011, at the Wayback Machine The National State Teleradiocompany of the Republic of Belarus 12 June 2009
  16. Iranian central bank helps fund Belarusneft oil exploration Middle East Business Intelligence 21 May 2009