Iran and Belarus Expand Defense Ties with Joint Exercises and Technology Exchange
Belarus and Iran continue to deepen their military partnership as Defense Ministers Viktar Khrenin and Aziz Nasirzadeh met in Minsk to sign a cooperation protocol and discuss avenues for further collaboration.
Belarus and Iran Strengthen Military Cooperation
March 14, 2025 - Belarus and Iran continue to deepen their military partnership as Defense Ministers Viktar Khrenin and Aziz Nasirzadeh met in Minsk to sign a cooperation protocol and discuss avenues for further collaboration. The meeting, held at the Central House of Officers, focused on strengthening bilateral defense ties and practical cooperation.
Expanding Military Cooperation
Belarus and Iran have intensified their defense cooperation since November 2023, when the first session of the Belarusian-Iranian interdepartmental commission on military collaboration took place. Since then, military representatives have held periodic meetings, and in 2024, Belarusian forces participated in command and staff exercises in Tehran.
During the latest meeting, both sides emphasized technology exchanges in defense manufacturing, including drone technology and electronic warfare systems, as well as expanded joint training programs focused on tactical coordination and intelligence sharing. Iran’s state-run Mehr News Agency reported that Minister Nasirzadeh was scheduled to meet with both military and civilian officials in Belarus to explore further opportunities for cooperation.
Read also about Belarus' ambition to further strengthen their partnership with Pakistan - here on Grosswald.org:
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High-Level Engagements
Over the past year, Minsk and Tehran have strengthened defense ties. In August 2024, an Iranian delegation visited Belarus, followed by meetings in February and April 2024. In April, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktar Khrenin met with his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Ashtiani, reiterating Minsk’s willingness to enhance cooperation with Tehran despite international sanctions. Ashtiani highlighted the "high potential" for military and defense collaboration between the two nations.
In May 2024, Belarusian military personnel participated in the "Belt of Security 2024" exercises in Tehran. Additionally, Iran accredited its first military attaché to Belarus, Captain First Rank Reza Khosravi Moghadam, marking a notable step in their diplomatic relations since 1993.
Strengthening Bilateral Engagement
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has actively fostered closer ties with Iran, congratulating Masoud Pezeshkian on his presidential election victory in July 2024 and inviting him to Belarus. Lukashenko previously visited Tehran in March 2023, laying the groundwork for increased cooperation.
Belarus has also expanded diplomatic and legislative exchanges with Iran. In July 2024, the Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus, Igor Sergeenko, attended Pezeshkian’s inauguration and later discussed further cooperation.
Meanwhile, high-level military visits have continued. In August 2024, a Belarusian delegation traveled to Iran for discussions on engineering support collaboration. In the same month, Belarusian Air Force and Air Defense Forces Commander, Major General Andrei Lukyanovich, visited Iran to meet with top military officials, including Iran’s Army Commander, Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, and Air Force Commander, Brigadier General Hamid Vahedi.
Underlying Strategic Intentions
Minsk and Tehran’s growing military cooperation reflects a calculated effort to diversify their strategic partnerships in response to geopolitical pressures. For Belarus, strengthening ties with Iran offers an alternative avenue for military technology and expertise amid Western sanctions. For Iran, engagement with Belarus provides a foothold in Eastern Europe, enhancing its international influence and reinforcing its alliances beyond the Middle East. This alignment suggests a broader strategy of countering Western influence and sanctions through alternative defense networks. Both nations see military collaboration as a means to bolster self-sufficiency, share technological advancements, and explore joint defense projects that circumvent traditional global supply chains.
Further sources: Svoboda
