May 20, Pozirk. The Iranian president’s death is unlikely to affect Belarusian-Iranian relations, political analyst Alexander Friedman has told Pozirk, commenting on the helicopter crash on Sunday in north-western Iran that claimed the lives of Ebrahim Raisi and several high-level officials.
Iran’s political system is centered around Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has been holding the Supreme Leader’s title since 1989, while Raisi headed the Iranian government and represented the country abroad since 2021.
It was Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who initiated closer cooperation with Russia and Belarus, while Raisi and late Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian played a certain role too, Friedman noted.
Raisi’s death could weaken Iran’s political regime “which is not so strong anymore, as shown by the protests that regularly take place there,” Friedman said, noting that Iran may face political turbulence in the future.
Meanwhile, Russian and Belarusian propaganda has pinned the blame for Raisi’s death on the West, Israel and even Ukraine. Their interpretation shows what propaganda targets and hates most, the expert said.
The way Belarusian propaganda is showcasing the mourning reflects the importance of cooperation with Iran that embodies radical anti-Western attitudes, he added.
Minsk started intensifying ties with Iran in 2023 after Łukašenka met Raisi in Tehran to sign a road map for comprehensive cooperation.
