Iran's First Vice President Aref Signals Readiness for Long-Term Partnership with EAEU

Iran's First Vice President Mohammadreza Aref has conveyed Iran's readiness to serve as an active, reliable, and long-term partner in expanding economic and regional cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). His message was delivered by Iran's ambassador to Belarus on Friday evening to a meeting of the EAEU's Intergovernmental Council, which was attended by prime ministers and high-ranking officials of the union's member states.

In the message, Aref highlighted the growing link between political and economic security, stating that Iran believes in genuine multilateralism, mutual respect, and the equal rights of nations. He described the EAEU as a key platform for expanding regional cooperation. The vice president also expressed appreciation to the government and people of Belarus, particularly the prime minister, for hosting and organizing the meeting. He characterized Iran's participation among Eurasian nations as a valuable opportunity to discuss current developments and to draw the future roadmap of cooperation among the union's member states.

Aref condemned military aggression by the United States and the Zionist regime against Iran, calling these actions a blatant violation of the fundamental principles of international law, the UN Charter, and the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of independent states. He pointed to damage inflicted upon civilian facilities and the Iranian people, including a children's school in Minab, and stressed the necessity of respecting the principles and rules of international law.

Emphasizing that opposition to unilateralism does not mean defending any specific country, Aref stated that such opposition is, in fact, a defense of state sovereignty, free trade, economic independence, and the right of nations to choose their own development paths and partners. According to Mehr News, the message underscored Iran's commitment to multilateral engagement and its readiness to play an active role alongside EAEU member states.