Iran, Belarus sign defense MOU as they explore cooperation on drones

Belarus may start playing a bigger role in Russia’s use of Iranian drones in the war on Ukraine.

Iran and Belarus signed a defense agreement on Monday, furthering cooperation between the two countries that now involves Shahed drones production that Russia has deployed in its war in Ukraine.

Iranian Defense Minister Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Ashtiani signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with his Belarusian counterpart, Gen. Viktor Gennadievich Khrenin, during a meeting in Tehran. The two also discussed the war on Ukraine, among other matters, Iran’s official Islamic Republic News Agency reported.

“Belarus holds a special place in Iran’s foreign policy,” said Ashtiani.

The Belarusian Ministry of Defense also confirmed the news on social media.

Министр обороны Республики Беларусь генерал-лейтенант Виктор Хренин прибыл в Исламскую Республику Иран с официальным визитом.
Фото: Ян Горбанюк, «Ваяр» pic.twitter.com/an0fou3p3a
— Минобороны Беларуси (@MOD_BY) July 31, 2023

Neither side provided further details on the memorandum.

Why it matters: Belarus is seen as vassal state Russia, displayed in close ties between its President Alexander Lukashenko and his counterpart Vladimir Putin. Iran emerged as a provider of suicide drones to Russia following the invasion, and has itself strengthened relations with Minsk. In March, Lukashenko visited Iran and met Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi as well as country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The two countries signed several cooperation agreements during the visit.

Last May, Iranian carmaker SAIPA said it would export vehicles to Belarus over the next three years via a $497 million deal.

Also in May, a delegation of Iranian engineers visited Belarus. The trip was organized by Russia to explore the possibility of producing Iran’s Shahed drones in Belarus. Establishing production in the Eastern European country would help Russia mitigate the logistical problems of transporting drones from Iran, Ukraine’s National Resistance Center reported at the time.

Know more: Iran has been supplying Russia with drones for use in the conflict since last year, and the cooperation is accelerating. The Financial Times reported last month that Iran is helping Russia develop a drone factory in the latter’s Tatarstan province. In June, the United States accused Iran of providing materials to Russia for a drone factory east of Moscow.