Russian allies Belarus and Iran agree to boost bilateral defense ties

The leaders of Belarus and Iran signed new agreements on Wednesday to boost bilateral ties in key areas including defense, the two governments said.

Presidents Alexander Lukashenko and Masoud Pezeshkian signed a package of 13 documents in the Belarusian capital, Minsk.

Both governments have been placed under heavy sanctions, limiting potential trading partners. Pezeshkian said Iran would help Belarus to “neutralize” such measures, citing Tehran’s decades of experience circumventing Western economic restrictions.

Lukashenko told Pezeshkian that Belarus was “ready to cooperate with you on all issues — from providing your country with food to military-technical cooperation,” calling the Iranian president a “friend.”

The two parties did not disclose any further details on how the countries intend to cooperate in the defense sector. Other areas covered by the agreement include industry and tourism, as well as joint initiatives in science, technology and education.

Access to Belarus’ wood processing and chemical industry, as well as potash fertilizers, can all bring potential benefits to Iran.

The two presidents also said their countries would start work toward a strategic partnership treaty.

Lukashenko, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, allowed Russia to use Belarusian territory as a staging ground for Moscow’ full-scale invasion of Ukraine and later allowed the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear missiles.

Iran has supplied Russia with drones for use in the war, and Pezeshkian signed a strategic cooperation treaty with Putin in January, although it did not include a mutual defense clause.

The Iranian president’s visit to Minsk has been postponed several times due to U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Lukashenko called the strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure “a serious threat to regional and international stability and security.”

“We support Iran’s legitimate right to develop peaceful nuclear energy,” Lukashenko said.

In this photo, released by Belarusian Presidential Press Service, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, right, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian talk to each other during their meeting in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (Belarusian Presidential Press Service via AP)

In this photo, released by Belarusian Presidential Press Service, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, right, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attend a welcome ceremony prior to their talks in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (Belarusian Presidential Press Service via AP)

In this photo, released by Belarusian Presidential Press Service, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, background right, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, background left, talk to each other during their meeting in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (Belarusian Presidential Press Service via AP)

In this photo, released by Belarusian Presidential Press Service, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, center right, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, center left, attend a welcome ceremony prior to their talks in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (Belarusian Presidential Press Service via AP)

In this photo, released by Belarusian Presidential Press Service, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, center, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, left, attend a welcome ceremony prior to their talks in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (Belarusian Presidential Press Service via AP)

NEW YORK (AP) — Bo Bichette and the New York Mets agreed Friday to a $126 million, three-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal was subject to a successful physical and had not been announced.

A two-time All-Star shortstop with the Toronto Blue Jays, Bichette will move to third base with the Mets, who have Francisco Lindor at shortstop. Bichette has never played a professional game at the hot corner.

Bichette can opt out of the deal after the first or second season to become a free agent again. He would receive $47 million for one year and $89 million for two years, the person said.

The deal does not contain any deferred money and Bichette gets a full no-trade provision. His $42 million average annual value ties for the sixth-highest in baseball history.

It was the latest big development in an eventful offseason for the Mets, who angered fans by letting popular slugger Pete Alonso and star closer Edwin Díaz leave in free agency. President of baseball operations David Stearns also traded two other stalwarts, outfielder Brandon Nimmo and versatile veteran Jeff McNeil — both homegrown players.

New York signed closer Devin Williams to a $51 million, three-year contract, infielder Jorge Polanco to a $40 million, two-year deal and reliever Luke Weaver to a $22 million, two-year agreement.

Although he lacks Alonso's prodigious power, Bichette is a proven hitter with lightning-fast hands and a penchant for line-drive doubles. He would give the Mets a dangerous right-handed bat to help complement lefty slugger Juan Soto.

Because of his inexperience at third, however, Bichette becomes the latest question mark in the field for New York even though Stearns has insisted the team must improve its defense and is determined to do so.

Polanco has one pitch of major league experience at first base, where he and Mark Vientos, previously a third baseman, are the leading candidates to replace Alonso.

New York had planned to start Brett Baty at third, where he provides a strong glove. Baty, who also has experience at second base, is viewed as a versatile defender who could see time in the outfield and perhaps at first.

Or, the Mets could look to trade Baty for pitching or outfield help. Gold Glove winner Marcus Semien is set to play second after arriving from Texas in a November trade for Nimmo.

Bichette batted .311 with 18 home runs, 94 RBIs and an .840 OPS in 139 games for the Blue Jays last year. He homered off Shohei Ohtani in Game 7 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Late last season, Bichette sprained his left knee in a Sept. 6 collision with New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells, keeping the infielder out of the lineup until the World Series. He returned for Game 1 against the Dodgers and played second base for the first time in six years.

Bichette led the American League in hits in 2021 and 2022. He finished second in the major leagues in batting average last season to Yankees slugger Aaron Judge.

Bichette turned down a $22,025,000 qualifying offer from the Blue Jays in November, so they would receive an extra draft pick in July after the fourth round if he completes his deal with the Mets.

New York would forfeit its second- and fifth-highest draft picks, along with $1 million in 2027 international signing bonus pool allocation.

Bichette was one of the last remaining big-name hitters on the free agent market after outfielder Kyle Tucker spurned the Mets and agreed Thursday to a $240 million, four-year contract with the Dodgers.

Bichette, who turns 28 in March, has spent his entire career with the Blue Jays since they selected him in the second round of the 2016 amateur draft. He is a .294 career hitter with 111 home runs and an .806 OPS in 748 major league games.

He is a son of former big league slugger Dante Bichette, a four-time All-Star outfielder.

Also Friday, the Mets claimed infielder Tsung-Che Cheng off waivers from Tampa Bay.

AP Baseball Writers Ronald Blum and David Brandt and AP Sports Writer Dan Gelston contributed to this report.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

FILE - Toronto Blue Jays' Bo Bichette celebrates his three run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the third inning in Game 7 of baseball's World Series, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Toronto. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)

FILE - New York Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns responds to questions during a news conference about MLB trade deadline deals, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith, File)