Iran, Belarus agree to expand bilateral ties

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif visited the Belarusian capital Minsk on Tuesday, setting store by the bilateral ties.

“We enjoy good relations with Belarus in the political, cultural, and economic areas, and we agreed today to expand and deepen these ties through the visit by Mr. Alexander Lukashenko, the president of Belarus, to Tehran, which will take place in near future,” Zarif said.

During the visit, the Iranian foreign minister inaugurated the new building of Iran’s embassy in the city during a ceremony, which was also attended by his Belarusian counterpart Vladimir Makei and other countries’ ambassadors.

Zarif said Iran’s policy is based on having friendly relations and constructive interaction with all countries in the world.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran extends the hand of cooperation and constructive and beneficial relation to all countries in the world,” said Zarif.

The Belarusian foreign minister stated, “The two countries mutually try to expand bilateral relations and support each other in the political arena; we will continue to do so in the future.”

During the visit, Zarif also met with the former Belarusian prime minister and speaker of the upper house of parliament, Mikhail Myasnikovich, who expressed readiness for the extension of parliamentary cooperation with Iran.