Iran, Belarus aim to strengthen military ties amid shared threats

The top military leaders of Iran and Belarus have expressed a mutual desire to deepen military relations and exchange strategic experiences, particularly in the face of shared challenges posed by US and Western sanctions.

During a meeting, Iranian Army Chief General Abdolrahim Mousavi emphasized the common threats and interests that unite Iran and Belarus, noting that both nations face "cruel sanctions" imposed by the US and the West, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

He commended Belarus for its independent stance regarding the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh and recognized the country as a critical strategic barrier against NATO's expansion.

General Mousavi highlighted that Iran and regional nations stand against NATO's growth, drawing on Iran's experience of resisting unilateral sanctions since the Islamic Revolution. He stressed that despite these pressures, Iran has strived to remain self-reliant in defense. Similarly, the people, government, and military of Belarus have developed their own strategies to counter NATO's influence and US unilateralism.

The Iranian commander underlined the strong commitment of both countries' political and military leadership to enhance cooperation. He cited the recent visit of Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko to Iran and his meeting with Raisi as a cornerstone for future collaboration, with joint commissions working to counter US unilateralism.

Belarusian Air Force and Air Defense Commander Gen Andrey Lukyanovich echoed these sentiments, expressing Belarus's interest in expanding military relations and learning from Iran's valuable defense experiences. He reaffirmed Belarus's opposition to US unilateralism and NATO expansionism. Lukyanovich also invited Gen Mousavi to visit Belarus to observe the country's defense capabilities first-hand.