Political Scientist: Lukashenka's Visit To Iran Looks Like Field Salesman’s Trip

The Kremlin has no need for the mediation of the Belarusian dictator.

Since yesterday, Lukashenka has been on a two-day visit to Iran. He has already met with President Ebrahim Raisi. It is reported that the main topic of the meeting was the "full range of development and interaction within all possible bilateral relations with an accent on commercial and economic collaboration."

What can be hidden behind this wording and why did Lukashenka actually go to Iran? The Charter97.org website asked Belarusian political scientist Dzmitry Balkunets.

– Lukashenka is looking for funding. He has been doing this in China already, and now he is trying to find financial resources in Iran. It is worth noting that Tehran also does not feel very well due to economic sanctions. Even 10 years ago, the situation was different due to the fact that the country was selling oil, but well-known sanctions cut off Tehran's ability to receive income. At the same time, it is obvious that Iran is a fairly strong and influential state in the region, and the level of demonization is not so important.

– What is the Belarusian dictator expecting there?

– Lukashenka expects to implement his projects through Iran, in particular, the projects in armaments. Iran has certain developments in this field. Lukashenka is also interested in selling Belarusian products and agricultural machinery. He would be interested in discussing other areas as well. For example, the supply of fertilizers from Belarus to Iran to replace the lost market volumes.

It’s necessary to understand that Iran is not a country that could replace the lost European markets and financial institutions that previously provided growth or influenced the Belarusian economy.

– We know that this is the second visit to countries that can send weapons to the Russian Federation. Does Lukashenka want to turn Belarus into such a hub for weapons supplies to the Kremlin?

– No. I think that the Kremlin does not need Lukashenka's mediation for the supply of weapons. China and Iran can deal directly with Moscow. As far as I remember, no one imposed global sanctions on this.

Recently there was information that Russian weapons were delivered through Belarus as a hub headed to Iran. Such schemes have really worked in past years. Nevertheless, I think that now Moscow is not particularly counting on Lukashenka's mediation.

There were also stories by Russian analysts that supposedly Lukashenka was going to be a mediator in regulating the Iranian-Azerbaijani conflict. It was due to the fact that Azerbaijan expelled several Iranian spies. That is complete nonsense. Lukashenka cannot claim any mediation. I think that Lukashenka would be the last for Azerbaijan to ask for an intermediary mission. Azerbaijan would ask Russia first of all, given Aliyev's relations with the Kremlin and his other contacts.

I don’t think that Lukashenka has a great reputation for Iran. Also, Iran is interested in selling dates and pistachios to Belarus and so on, but it will not invest in the Belarusian economy.

To summarize, Lukashenka's voyage looks like a field salesman’s trip who simply decided to see what he had in stock and went to sell spare parts and equipment.

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