Belarus, Türkiye Join Efforts to Combat Mazandaran Forest Fire in Iran

Belarus and Türkiye have offered assistance in controlling the ongoing forest fire in the Elit forests of Iran's northern Mazandaran.

Governor General of Mazandaran Province, Mehdi Younesi Rostami, announced that Belarus has expressed its readiness to provide firefighting support and aircraft if needed, The Caspian Post reports via Iranian media.

He also confirmed that arrangements have been made for firefighting planes from Türkiye to be deployed to Mazandaran through ongoing negotiations.

Earlier, Shina Ansari, Iran’s Vice President and Head of the Department of Environment, stated that the province would also request help from Russia to control the fire in Chalus.

The firefighting operation is ongoing in the Elit village forests of Marzanabad, Chalus County, with the participation of Red Crescent and IRGC helicopters, specialized teams, local residents, and volunteers committed to environmental protection, Rostami said.

The Elit forests have experienced two major fires this month. The first began on November 1, 2025, and was successfully extinguished after several days of coordinated efforts.

The second fire, which broke out on November 15, has been largely contained thanks to the deployment of three helicopters and the combined efforts of emergency teams and local residents, though a small area continues burning.