Iran pushes for cultural, economic diplomacy with nations across central Asia
Iranian official Ali Asghar Tahmasebi reportedly emphasized the importance of developing Central Asia via “economic diplomacy.”
New reports in Iranian media indicate that Tehran continues to push its outreach policy toward Central Asia countries. Articles indicate outreach toward Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan.
A new report at the pro-government Tehran Times notes that “the governor-general of [Iran’s] Golestan province, in northeast Iran, expressed hope that holding exhibitions will pave the way for a great leap in the level of economic cooperation between Iran and Turkmenistan.” This report goes on to note that the official, Ali Asghar Tahmasebi emphasized the importance of developing the region. “Economic diplomacy” is one method.
A new exhibition “aims to expand the export of Iranian technical and engineering services and offers a structured platform for companies seeking to enter or deepen their presence in Turkmenistan’s growing market,” the report added.
Tehran Times went on to say that “by bringing together major Iranian exporting firms and project developers, the event is expected to facilitate contract negotiations, technical partnerships and regional cooperation in large-scale infrastructure and industrial projects. It also creates a direct channel for Iranian companies to gain access to oil and gas opportunities, petrochemical developments and broader international tenders in Turkmenistan.”
Furthermore, in late May, Iran and Turkmenistan signed a commercial roadmap aimed at boosting bilateral trade to $3 billion.
The flags of Iran and Turkmenistan (illustrative) (credit: SHUTTERSTOCK)
Iran and Tajikistan agree on social welfare cooperation
In another sign of the trend, Iran and Tajikistan have agreed to draft a joint roadmap in the fields of social welfare and social empowerment, head of Iran’s State Welfare Organization said on Tuesday, Iran’s government media IRNA reported. “Javad Hosseini, the head of State Welfare Organization, made the announcement during a visit to Dushanbe, where he met with Mohiuddin Khairullahzadeh, Tajikistan’s deputy minister of health.”
Alireza Haghighian, the ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Tajikistan, also “welcomed the specialized approach and extensive capacities of Iran’s State Welfare Organization. Haghighian announced the full readiness of the Iranian embassy to provide any necessary cooperation, facilitate communications, and help expand interactions between Iran’s State Welfare Organization and relevant institutions and agencies of the Republic of Tajikistan,” the report noted.
Lastly, Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Iran Ontalap Onalbayev has said expansion of ties with Iran is a top foreign policy priority of his country. IRNA reported that he was speaking at an event called the “Iran–Kazakhstan Night,” held on Monday at Tehran’s Niavaran Palace. Onalbayev said “that signing cultural memoranda of understanding strengthens cooperation between the two countries. He added that Kazakhstan pays special attention to expanding cooperation in the cultural, economic, and humanitarian fields. The deep and strong connections between Iran and Kazakhstan, as two ancient civilizations in trade, science, and literature, reflect the historical role of the two countries as a bridge between East and West,” IRNA noted. Reza Salehi Amiri, Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, also attended the event. “The event featured a book and photo exhibition, as well as a nomadic yurt, symbolizing the rich culture and traditions of Central Asian peoples,” IRNA said.
New reports in Iranian media indicate that Tehran continues to push its outreach policy toward Central Asia countries. Articles indicate outreach toward Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan.
A new report at the pro-government Tehran Times notes that “the governor-general of [Iran’s] Golestan province, in northeast Iran, expressed hope that holding exhibitions will pave the way for a great leap in the level of economic cooperation between Iran and Turkmenistan.” This report goes on to note that the official, Ali Asghar Tahmasebi emphasized the importance of developing the region. “Economic diplomacy” is one method. A new exhibition “aims to expand the export of Iranian technical and engineering services and offers a structured platform for companies seeking to enter or deepen their presence in Turkmenistan’s growing market,” the report added.
Tehran Times went on to say that “by bringing together major Iranian exporting firms and project developers, the event is expected to facilitate contract negotiations, technical partnerships and regional cooperation in large-scale infrastructure and industrial projects. It also creates a direct channel for Iranian companies to gain access to oil and gas opportunities, petrochemical developments and broader international tenders in Turkmenistan.” Furthermore, in late May, Iran and Turkmenistan signed a commercial roadmap aimed at boosting bilateral trade to $3 billion.
In another sign of the trend, Iran and Tajikistan have agreed to draft a joint roadmap in the fields of social welfare and social empowerment, head of Iran’s State Welfare Organization said on Tuesday, Iran’s government media IRNA reported. “Javad Hosseini, the head of State Welfare Organization, made the announcement during a visit to Dushanbe, where he met with Mohiuddin Khairullahzadeh, Tajikistan’s deputy minister of health.”
Alireza Haghighian, the ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Tajikistan, also “welcomed the specialized approach and extensive capacities of Iran’s State Welfare Organization. Haghighian announced the full readiness of the Iranian embassy to provide any necessary cooperation, facilitate communications, and help expand interactions between Iran’s State Welfare Organization and relevant institutions and agencies of the Republic of Tajikistan,” the report noted.
Lastly, Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Iran Ontalap Onalbayev has said expansion of ties with Iran is a top foreign policy priority of his country. IRNA reported that he was speaking at an event called the “Iran–Kazakhstan Night,” held on Monday at Tehran’s Niavaran Palace. Onalbayev said “that signing cultural memoranda of understanding strengthens cooperation between the two countries.
He added that Kazakhstan pays special attention to expanding cooperation in the cultural, economic, and humanitarian fields. The deep and strong connections between Iran and Kazakhstan, as two ancient civilizations in trade, science, and literature, reflect the historical role of the two countries as a bridge between East and West,” IRNA noted.
Reza Salehi Amiri, Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, also attended the event. “The event featured a book and photo exhibition, as well as a nomadic yurt, symbolizing the rich culture and traditions of Central Asian peoples,” IRNA said.
