TEHRAN – Iran and Belarus have agreed to launch direct flights and expand tourism exchanges when President Masudo Pezeshkian visited Minsk, Iran’s tourism minister said Wednesday.
Minister of cultural heritage, tourism and handicrafts, Seiyed Reza Salehi Amiri said the two countries have reached an agreement to “initiate three direct flights” and to strengthen cooperation in the tourism sector.
He added that the Iranian and Belarusian presidents have also agreed to take steps to ease visa requirements. According to Salehi-Amiri, Tehran is seeking free Belarus visas for Iranian citizens under a potential agreement.
“The main obstacle in the path to tourism cooperation was the issue of visas discussed today by the two presidents,” the minister said in a statement carried by Iranian media.
Pezeshkian, who met Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk on Wednesday, said Iran places great importance on developing its relations with Belarus.
“I personally follow up on contracts between the two countries. The current volume of trade exchange is insignificant compared to existing possibilities, and that must be improved. The relationship between the two countries must be based on a deeper, more sustainable foundation.”
Lukashenko formally welcomed the Iranian president at the presidential palace before the meeting.
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