Iran Keen to Promote Sci-Tech Relations with Belarus

President Rouhani on Saturday described Tehran-Minsk relations as developing and stressed that all potentialities and opportunities must be tapped for deepening bilateral ties in all fields.

He made the remarks in a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China.

“Belarus has always been a friend of Iran and Tehran is ready to deepen economic and business relations, especially in scientific and modern technology fields,” he added.

“Cooperation between Iran and Eurasia further boosts relations between the two countries,” he went on to say.

Touching upon the importance of transit routes in the region, he said, “In North-South transit, Iran is the best route for Central Asia and Caucasus and South-eastern Europe to Persian Gulf and southern waters.”

He also referred to the new US government’s withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and said, “The global community’s standing up to the unilateral actions of Washington means supporting international rules and regulations.”

The President of Belarus, for his part, said that his country was determined to develop relations with Tehran, adding, “Iran is a key partner for us in the region and we are determined to further promote our relations with Iran in all political and economic fields.”

Lukashenko described Iran’s stance towards the US’ unilateral withdrawal from the JCPOA as a wise move, and said, “The US’ unilateral actions and violating international obligations is a threat to international laws and the international community must help create a new balance in the world.”