Iran calls for bolstering ties with Belarus to mitigate sanctions

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Iranian Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf called for Tehran to boost its ties with Belarus, as it would help mitigate the sanctions imposed on Iran by the United States and its allies.

During a meeting with Belarus Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei and his accompanying delegation in Tehran, Qalibaf underlined that the countries, both of which are under pressure by US and Western sanctions, should band together.

Western states, including the United States, have imposed harsh sanctions on various countries to protect their own interests.

Belarus is trying to counter sanctions and pressure, and it is trying to act independently on its domestic and foreign policy fronts, Makei said.

The Belarusian top diplomat revealed that Minsk has been trying to establish a strategic partnership with Iran, praising the Islamic Republic's regional role and calling it an important country in Asia.

The two top officials also touched on the parliamentary relations between the two countries and economic cooperation in Central Asia.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Makei condemned the terrorist attack that took place in the southern Iranian city of Shiraz, which left 15 people dead. He also expressed his sympathy for the Iranian people over the incident.

Fifteen were killed and 40 were wounded in a terrorist attack on the Shah-e-Cheragh shrine in Shiraz on Wednesday. ISIS claimed responsibility on the same day for the attack.

Our correspondent cited eyewitnesses, saying that three extremist, terrorist gunmen of non-Iranian nationality entered the city of Shiraz by car and opened fire on the visitors and staff in the religious shrine.

According to the Iranian Fars news agency, "Two of the gunmen were arrested, and the third is being pursued,” with no official information about the number of dead or wounded released.