Relations between two friendly and fraternal countries - the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Uzbekistan – have been developing in all areas. Fruitful meetings of various levels between the top leadership of our countries have been organized.

Even during the coronavirus pandemic, friendly ties were maintained in the form of telephone conversations between officials and experts, as well as meetings via videoconference.

The bilateral dialogue was strengthened by political consultations, a meeting of foreign ministers in Tashkent, which gave a good impetus to the intensification of ties in other areas.

The sixth round of political consultations was organized after a six-year break during the visit of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan to Tehran. From now on, events in this format are planned to be held regularly once a year.

After a ten-year break, the heads of the foreign ministries of the two countries held bilateral talks in Tashkent. The meeting served as a preface to the development of relations between Iran and Uzbekistan in many areas.

On February 20-21, 2022, Tehran hosted the fourteenth meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Uzbekistan. The event was attended by a high-level delegation of sixty people led by the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan. This delegation was the largest Uzbekistan delegation ever to visit the Islamic Republic of Iran.

During this visit, representatives of the government and business circles of Uzbekistan met with the leadership of the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the President, deputy heads of state for economics, science and technology, the minister of trade, industry, mining and agriculture and other officials. A high-level business forum was also organized at the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, and following the fourteenth meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission, several important documents were signed.

At the meetings within the framework of the summits of the heads of member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, in Dushanbe on 16-17 September 2021, as well as the heads of the member states of the Economic Cooperation Organization, held on 28 November 2021 in Ashgabat, the presidents of our countries focused on the development of relations, gave relevant instructions to the relevant ministries and agencies. Action plans are being prepared aimed at enhancing the strategic partnership in all areas.

As is known, in recent years, one of the features of our relations is the diversification of cooperation. In addition to exemplary political, trade and economic relations, strong ties in transport, cooperation in regional and international issues, a close inter-parliamentary dialogue has also been established between the two countries, as well as ties in higher education, culture and art, and tourism. The signing of documents between Iran and Uzbekistan in culture, tourism, science and technology has become a new phenomenon in relations between the two countries.

One of the important documents – the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in culture – provides for holding a week of culture in both countries. Thus, by the end of this year, it is planned to hold weeks of Iranian culture in Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva.

The establishment of a Joint Commission on Security Cooperation between Iran and Uzbekistan has raised our country’s relations with all the countries of Central Asia to a new level. It is gratifying that Iran was the first in the region to establish the activities of this structure together with Uzbekistan. The document on the establishment of the Commission was signed during a visit to Uzbekistan of Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran Ali Shamkhani. There is no doubt that cooperation in this area will have a positive impact on the pace of common efforts in other areas as well.

Over the past two years, inter-parliamentary relations have also been established between Iran and Uzbekistan. Parliamentary Friendship Groups were created in both countries. On 12-14 July 2022, the Chairman of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of the Islamic Republic of Iran visited Uzbekistan for the first time. The delegation was warmly welcomed. In the coming months, the Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Chairman of the Inter-Parliamentary Group for Cooperation with the Islamic Consultative Assembly of the Islamic Republic of Iran is expected to visit Iran. Inter-parliamentary cooperation, as well as mutual visits of parliamentary delegations, will create the basis for the development of multilateral partnerships in many areas.

Collaboration is strengthening in the trade and economic sphere. Last year, the trade turnover between Iran and Uzbekistan increased by 73 percent and amounted to $431 million compared to the previous year. Such an indicator does not correspond to the existing economic potential of the two countries, so the next step to be taken along this path will be to increase the volume of annual trade to 2 billion euros shortly.

The most efficient methods of getting to know the market and the potential of the two countries are holding regular meetings of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, joint exhibitions, completing work on the development of trade cooperation agreements based on the most favored nation treatment, further strengthening the relations between private enterprises of the two countries, establishing a visa-free regime and facilitating the mutual entry and exit of citizens, developing combined transport, continuously monitoring efforts towards establishing a free trade order and removing possible obstacles.

On 9-11 May 2022, the first specialized exhibition of Iranian achievements in industry and production was held at the Uzexpocentre exhibition complex in Tashkent. On July 20, within the framework of the visit to Uzbekistan of the Vice-President of Iran Sorena Sattari, the Uzbekistan – Iran Scientific and Innovation Forum was held with the participation of 30 Iranian innovative companies. Cooperation between the two countries in science and technology will serve to further deepen relations and expand cultural ties. Now Uzbekistan has all the conditions for opening Iranian innovation centers and taking joint measures in this area.

The economic potential of the two countries complements each other. The Iranian direction is the most convenient way out to the open sea for Uzbekistan. A common market of one hundred and twenty million people, as well as a variety of products and goods, is a unique opportunity for our entrepreneurs.

Iran and Uzbekistan have similar views and positions on international and regional issues. The firm will of the leaders of the two countries is aimed at the comprehensive deepening of relations. All these factors will help us achieve our main goal of bringing our annual turnover to 2 billion euros.

Both countries have brilliant prospects in the political, economic and cultural spheres. The President of the Islamic Republic of Iran expressed his desire to take part in the Summit of the Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, to be held in Samarkand in September this year. It is expected that this bilateral meeting of the leaders of our states within the framework of an official visit after a twenty-year break and the signing of important documents related to various fields following this meeting will become a positive turning point in comprehensive relations.

We are confident that Uzbekistan and Iran will show the world community a worthy and wonderful example of friendship and brotherhood.

Hamid Nayyerabadi,

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the 

Islamic Republic of Iran in the Republic of Uzbekistan

UzA