Raisi’s death unlikely to affect Belarus-Iran ties – pundit

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.

Łukašenka, foreign ministry extend condolences to Iran over Raisi's death
- Politics, SecurityLatvian-Belarusian border fence damaged more than 200 times since year’s startThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyBelarus reopens Kamienny Łoh border checkpointThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- SocietyKey Belarus-Lithuania border crossing temporarily halts operationsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsPołack judge brands pro-Russian online community as extremist groupThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka to meet Iran's president in Minsk tomorrowThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja’s economic advisor resignsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- SocietyBus queue into Poland hits record high in one weekThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: eight on trial in Hrodna for communication in local chatsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus aims to reverse tourism deficit with centralized oversightThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyPreschool education institutions face shortage of teaching resourcesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyBelarusians form diaspora organization in PolandThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsEx-prisoner thanks Trump for role in Belarus releases: “A normal price to pay”The material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus’ industrial output slips by 0.3 percentThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyMinsk area generates 51.8 percent of GDPThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyMinsk man given lengthy prison term over unauthorized Covid-19 surveyThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- EconomyŁukašenka pins Amkador’s debts on former managersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyHousing construction up 10.2 percent in January-JulyThe material is available only to POZIRK+