Sanctioned States Should Cooperate to Counter US Measures

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said countries that are subject to the United States’ sanctions must cooperate and form a unified front to neutralize this instrument. 
“We believe that this is attainable,” he said in a meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and his delegation on Monday, Leader.ir reported. 
He underlined that severe sanctions drew Iran’s attention to its domestic capabilities, paving the way for its progress in different areas. 
“If sanctioned countries use each other’s capacities completely, the benefits will be enormous for all sides,” he said. 
Both Iran and Belarus are under sanctions by the US and other western countries on different grounds. 
The Leader described these coercive measures as one of the shared features between the two countries.
The Belarusian president also said sanctions can provide an opportunity for progress if the situation is used properly. 
“Iran has made impressive progress and gained great experience during the period of sanctions and my purpose of this trip was to see those achievements closely,” he said.  
He also reassured that agreements reached during his visit will be implemented within a specific time frame. 
Lukashenko arrived in Tehran on Sunday and was officially received by President Ebrahim Raisi on Monday morning. 
The two held private talks, discussing ways to improve bilateral cooperation in various sectors, including industry, agriculture and transportation, as well as regional and international issues. 
Top-level delegations from both countries later convened a meeting, where a roadmap for multi-faceted cooperation between Tehran and Minsk was signed by the two presidents. 
Iranian and Belarusian high-ranking officials also inked seven memorandums of understanding in various sectors, namely trade, transit, agriculture, art and culture and transfer of convicts.
The documents were signed by ministers of foreign affairs, industry, agriculture, roads and urban development and justice, and their Belarusian counterparts. 
Top officials also signed an executive program document on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries. 

A Different Future 

Speaking at a joint press briefing, Raisi described his negotiations as “good and fruitful,” hoping the agreements would mark major steps toward expansion of relations and ensure the interests of both nations. 
“After 30 years of friendly relations, Iran and Belarus have devised a comprehensive roadmap for the development of their strategic ties in various sectors which will definitely shape a different future,” he said. 
The president also said Iran is determined to enhance its ties with Belarus within the framework of regional and extra-regional organizations, over which productive negotiations were held.  
“We can cooperate through the capacities of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Eurasian Economic Union and expand such collaboration based on common interests and positions,” he said. 
Lukashenko said there was a period of suspension in Tehran-Minsk cooperation but that time has now passed.  
“Many documents and MoUs were signed today which, if implemented, we can achieve our goal of boosting the volume of bilateral trade to $100 million,” he said. 
He added that although mutual trade has tripled compared to last year, it is still short of the two countries’ expectations. 
Raisi later highlighted Tehran and Minsk’s opposition to unilateralism and emphasis on cooperation between independent countries. 
“Efficient and constructive cooperation of independent states is a way to not only neutralize sanctions, but also pave the way for the nations’ progress” he said. 
He said Iran has managed to take giant steps toward progress despite sanctions and threats and is ready to share its experiences with Belarus. 
Lukashenko pointed to his last trip to Iran 17 years ago, admitting that no sanctions have been able to prevent Iran from developing. 
“Sanctions provide an opportunity which must not be missed,” he said. 
The Belarusian president said Tehran and Minsk share similar stances on regional and international issues, with both countries favoring a “multipolar and fair” world. 
At the end of the session, Lukashenko invited Raisi to visit his country. 
Foreign ministers of Iran and Belarus also held a separate meeting during the trip, where they discussed a wide range of issues, such as bilateral cooperation in political, economic, scientific, cultural and consular sectors, as well as cooperation within regional and international platforms. 
Iranian top diplomat Hossein Amir-Abdollahian called for quick implementation of the agreements to increase trade exchanges and initiate joint industrial projects and transport and transit collaboration. 
Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergei Aleinik asked for using the Islamic Republic’s experiences in countering illegal sanctions. 
He also expressed Minsk’s interest in using Iran’s transport infrastructure for the transit of its export goods to global markets. 
Both officials stressed the importance of facilitating consular procedures for businesspeople and truck drivers.