Tajikistan Envoy Says Iran Trade to Rise despite US Sanctions

Trade between Tajikistan and Iran is expected to increase this year despite the impact of US sanctions and recent regional developments, Tajikistan’s Ambassador to Iran Zohidi Nizomiddin Shamsiddinzoda said on Tuesday, citing a sharp rise in bilateral commerce during the first half of the year. Speaking at a news conference marking the 35th anniversary of Tajikistan’s independence, Shamsiddinzoda said the recent developments would not have a serious impact on economic ties between the two countries, IRNA reported. “During the first half of the year, which was the period of the war, we expected trade volume to decline, but according to our statistics, trade volume increased 14-fold compared with last year,” he said. “Trade between our countries will definitely increase this year,” he added. Shamsiddinzoda criticized the use of sanctions as a political tool, saying they did not benefit any country. “Sanctions are in no country’s interest, and many sanctions violate international law. Unfortunately, in today’s world, sanctions are used as a tool and leverage to resolve political issues,” he said.

Last week, the US imposed a wave of new sanctions on Iran, hitting five sectors of the nation’s economy — aviation, digital assets, gold, technology, and shipping — as it also imposed sanctions on 60 specific individuals and vessels. The ambassador said bilateral trade had stood at about US$55 million in 2020, having declined from higher levels earlier due to some misunderstandings between the two countries. By 2025, however, trade had reached US$450 million — a more than eight-fold surge over five years, he added. Iran and Tajikistan have set a target of increasing bilateral trade to US$1 billion, he said, adding that the necessary conditions to achieve the goal were in place. The two countries have also held 18 meetings of their Joint Commission for Cooperation in Tehran and Dushanbe, with the latest meeting held last month in Dushanbe, he said. “The Joint Commission for Cooperation between the two countries makes serious and important decisions to promote and develop relations between Tehran and Dushanbe,” Shamsiddinzoda said. He said Iran had invested about US$300 million in Tajikistan during the 35 years since the country’s independence. One of the projects was the construction of Tajikistan’s Independence Tunnel by Iran, he said, adding that the project had helped Tajikistan overcome a transportation bottleneck. Tajik companies are also investing in Iran, he said. - Iran Daily