Iran Asks Belarus to Ease Return of Stranded Nationals

In a telephone conversation with his Belarusian counterpart Vladimir Maki on Tuesday, Amirabdollahian voiced concern about the predicament of Iranian nationals stranded on the Belarus-Lithuania border.

The Iranian foreign minister said Tehran is gravely concerned over the situation of its citizens. He demanded that Belarus’ consulate officials and border guards offer humanitarian cooperation for the purpose of locating the stranded Iranians and providing them with medical care.

The foreign minister also urged the Belarusian government to give the Iranian Embassy in Minsk access to the Iranians so that they will be repatriated to their country, the Foreign Ministry’s website reported.

Amirabdollahian pointed to the worrying news on social media regarding the situation of these people, calling for maximum cooperation from Belarus, particularly its border guards for the purpose of helping the Iranian nationals.

For his part, Maki briefed Amirabdollahian on the measures taken by the Belarusian Foreign Ministry to identify and find the Iranian nationals.

Maki reaffirmed Minsk’s readiness to provide maximum assistance in this regard and to keep in touch closely with the Iranian Embassy in Minsk.

He also said it is necessary to get more information about the whereabouts of the stranded Iranians, giving assurances that he would immediately demand information from relevant authorities in Belarus in this respect.

The two foreign ministers also agreed to continue consultations until the Iranian nationals stranded in the border region are found and assisted.

They further underlined their determination to implement the agreements that Tehran and Minsk have reached recently on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly’s meeting for the purpose of developing and deepening ties.