Iran & Kazakhstan Boost Ario Cooperation
Iran and Kazakhstan pledged deeper cooperation in agriculture to ensure sustainable development and food security, Iran’s agriculture minister said during the opening ceremony of the Central Asia Products Expo (Expo Goods) in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Speaking at the event, Gholamreza Nouri Ghezeljeh emphasized the growing importance of food security amid climate change and environmental crises. “In today’s world, the need for food security is more pressing than ever, particularly as we face escalating climate disruptions and ecological challenges,” he said.
Nouri stressed that sustainable development must be viewed not only from an economic lens but also through its social and environmental dimensions. He called on regional countries to enhance multilateral cooperation and improve resource efficiency to meet these challenges.
Highlighting Iran’s agricultural potential, Nouri said the country produces more than 130 million tons of agricultural products annually, thanks to its fertile lands and diverse climate. “We’ve also made significant strides in developing agricultural processing and value-added industries,” he added.
Of that output, over 10 million tons are exported to various countries. Nouri said Iran, with its population of nearly 90 million and a dynamic economy, also imports agricultural products and inputs—a trade flow that presents opportunities for both bilateral and multilateral commercial expansion.
He pointed to Iran’s deep-rooted cultural, religious, and economic ties with neighboring countries, particularly Kazakhstan and Pakistan. As co-chair of the Iran-Kazakhstan Joint Economic Committee alongside Kazakh Minister Almas Shakaliyev, Nouri underscored Tehran’s commitment to strengthening comprehensive cooperation.
On ties with China, Nouri noted that under the framework of the Iran-China Joint Agricultural Committee, relations are expanding steadily, with current bilateral agricultural trade valued at around US$1.5 billion.
He said Iran’s government policies have paved the way for robust and growing partnerships with Central Asian and Eurasian nations, based on shared interests and cooperation across both public and private sectors.
Expressing gratitude for Kazakhstan’s hospitality, the minister said he hoped the expo would serve as a platform for substantial regional economic progress.
Nouri concluded by highlighting Iran’s strategic position and its shared interests with neighbors like Kazakhstan, along with China’s economic capacity. “This creates fertile ground for long-term, mutually beneficial cooperation, particularly along key trade corridors stretching from East to West and North to South.”
Iran offers broad co-op with IOFS for food security
During a meeting with the Director-General of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) in Kazakhstan, Nouri Ghezeljeh expressed the country’s readiness to deepen cooperation with the organization.
He underscored the importance of food security across Islamic nations and pointed to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The minister praised Kazakhstan and fellow IOFS members for launching the initiative, calling the organization a vital platform for cooperation among Muslim countries to secure their food supply.
He added that the diverse climates across the Islamic world offer an opportunity to pool knowledge and resources in pursuit of food security.
Highlighting Iran’s century-long experience in agricultural research and development, Nouri proposed the formation of a general assembly of agriculture ministers from Islamic nations to address shared challenges such as climate change, global warming, and water scarcity.
He also said Iran is ready to share its expertise in using nuclear technology in agriculture and food production with partner countries.
The minister described Iran’s geopolitical location as an asset that could turn the country into a regional hub for food exchange and supply chain security.
For his part, IOFS Director-General Berik Aryn welcomed Iran’s engagement and said the country plays a key role in regional food security. “Iran’s self-sufficiency in agricultural production and research makes it a major contributor to the organization’s mission,” he noted.
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the Iranian agriculture minister’s visit to Kazakhstan and focused on expanding both bilateral and multilateral cooperation in food security. - Tehran Times
15/06/2025
Iran Raises Forex Import Allocations amid Confrontation with Israel
The Central Bank of Iran (CBI) has earmarked fresh resources to subsidize imports of basic goods amid an escalating military confrontation with the Israeli regime.
CBI’s public relations office said on Saturday that the lender had allocated an extra US$1 billion to imports of basic goods, adding that some US$400 million of the funding had immediately been transferred to the accounts of banks processing imports.
It said the decision was meant to further boost Iran’s stocks of basic goods.
The announcement came just a day after the Israeli regime carried out unprovoked airstrikes against Iran, causing Tehran to respond by firing a barrage of missiles and drones at targets in the occupied Palestine.
Government authorities have said that the country has enough stocks of food and other basic goods to cope with emergency conditions caused by the escalating military confrontation with Israel.
The CBI has processed more than US$10 billion worth of hard currency allocation to imports into Iran since the start of the calendar year in late March, including more than US$2 billion worth of heavily-subsidized currency earmarked to imports of basic goods and medicine.
The bank has a rate of 285,000 rials per US dollar for imports of basic goods, which covers grains, animal feed, and medicine. It also provides US dollars at a rate of 700,000 rials for imports of manufacturing equipment and other necessities.
That comes as the free market price of the US dollar was around 900,000 rials on Saturday, up more than 12% from the rates used in trade before the confrontation with Israel began a day earlier. - Press TV
15/06/2025
WB to End Ban on N-Energy Projects, Still Debating Upstream Gas
The World Bank’s board has agreed to end a longstanding ban on funding nuclear energy projects in developing countries as part of a broader push to meet rising electricity needs, the bank’s president Ajay Banga said on Wednesday. Banga outlined the bank’s revised energy strategy in an email to staff after what he called a constructive discussion with the board on Tuesday. He said the board was not yet in agreement on whether the bank should engage in funding the production of natural gas, and if so, under what circumstances. The global development bank, which lends at low rates to help countries build everything from flood barriers to railroads, decided in 2013 to stop funding nuclear power projects. It announced in 2017 it would stop funding upstream oil and gas projects beginning in 2019, although it would still consider gas projects in the poorest countries.
The nuclear issue was agreed fairly easily by board members, but several countries, including Germany, France and Britain, did not fully support changing the bank’s approach to embrace upstream natural gas projects, sources familiar with the discussion said. “While the issues are complex, we’ve made real progress toward a clear path forward on delivering electricity as a driver of development,” Banga said, adding that further discussion was required on the issue of upstream gas projects. Banga has championed a shift in the bank’s energy policy since taking office in June 2023, arguing the bank should pursue an “all of the above” approach to help countries meet rising electricity needs and advance development goals. In his memo, he noted that electricity demand was expected to more than double in developing countries by 2035, which would require more than doubling today’s annual investment of US$280 billion in generation, grids and storage.
The Trump administration has been pushing hard for ending the ban on nuclear energy projects since taking office. The US is the bank’s single largest shareholder — at 15.83 percent, followed by Japan with 7 percent and China with close to 6 percent — and the bank’s decision to broaden its approach to energy projects will likely please President Donald Trump, who withdrew the US from the Paris Climate Agreement and its emission-reduction targets as one of his first acts in January. Twenty-eight countries already use commercial nuclear power, with 10 more ready to start and another 10 potentially ready by 2030, according to the Energy for Growth Hub and Third Way. Banga said the World Bank Group would work closely with the International Atomic Energy Agency to strengthen its ability to advise on nuclear non-proliferation safeguards, safety, security and regulatory frameworks. The bank would support efforts to extend the life of existing nuclear reactors, along with grid upgrades. It would also work to accelerate the potential of small modular reactors.
ENERGY MIX
Trump administration officials and some development experts say developing countries should not be blocked from using inexpensive power to expand their economies while advanced economies like Germany continue to burn fossil fuels. But climate activists worry that funding more nuclear and natural gas projects will divert funds away from urgently needed efforts by developing countries to adapt to climate change and benefit from abundant alternative energy sources such as solar. “Net zero does not mean fossil fuel free. It means, still, that there will be 20 percent energy coming from fossil fuels,” said Mia Mottley, prime minister of Barbados. “We know natural gas is that clean fuel.” Banga said the bank’s revised strategy would allow countries to determine the best energy mix, with some choosing solar, wind, geothermal or hydroelectric power, while others might opt for natural gas or, over time, nuclear. He said the bank would continue to advise on and finance midstream and downstream natural gas projects when they represented the least-cost option, aligned with development plans, minimized risk and did not constrain renewables. The bank would further study evolving technologies like carbon capture and ocean energy, Banga said, adding it aimed to simplify reviews and approvals. Banga said the bank would continue advising on and financing the retirement of coal plants, supporting carbon capture for industry and power generation, but not for enhanced oil recovery, which can typically secure commercial financing.
15/06/2025
Iran Proposes Joint AI Centre with Iraq
Hossein Afshin, Assistant to the Iranian President for Scientific and Technical Affairs and the Knowledge Economy, has reportedly proposed establishing a joint Iran-Iraq artificial intelligence (AI) centre on one of Iran's islands.
Speaking during a meeting in Tehran with Ali Razzouqi, Deputy Head of the Office of the Iraqi Prime Minister, Afshin is quoted as called for moving beyond memoranda of understanding towards practical planning and implementation, suggesting that the historical ties between Iran and Iraq could support long-term scientific collaboration.
According to Iran's state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Razzouqi welcomed the proposal, referencing previous cooperation between Sharif University and the University of Baghdad. He underlined the importance of AI as a tool to address broader challenges, including water, energy, agriculture, and environmental issues.
Topics discussed for future collaboration included military technologies, cloud seeding, and responses to climate change and dust storms. - Iraq Business News
15/06/2025
Refinery Facilities Unharmed in Attacks on Iran
The National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company (NIORDC), in a statement mourning the martyrdom of several commanders, scientists and innocent civilians, announced that the recent assaults caused no damage to the country’s refinery facilities or oil storage sites.
The statement read:
"In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
While expressing condolences over the martyrdom of commanders, scientists and innocent civilians at the hands of the Zionist regime, we inform the honorable Iranian nation that today’s attacks by this despotic regime caused no harm to the country’s refinery facilities or oil depots. Currently, operations at these facilities and fuel distribution across all regions continue uninterrupted and steadily." - Shana
15/06/2025
Iraq Suspends Air Traffic, Closes Airspace
The Iraqi Ministry of Transport has confirmed the suspension of all air traffic and the temporary closure of Iraqi airspace until further notice, citing regional security tensions and the need to safeguard civil aviation.
According to a statement from the Ministry's Media Office, the General Company for Air Navigation Services began a phased clearing of Iraqi airspace early this morning, suspending all inbound, outbound, and overflying flights.
Iraqi Airways has also halted all its flights as a precautionary measure, reaffirming its commitment to passenger safety.
The Ministry emphasised that the decision will remain in effect until a reassessment deems conditions safe for the resumption of operations.
The decision follows Israel's attack on targets in Iran this morning, which has been condemned by the Iraqi government.
15/06/2025
Qatari Minister Takes Part in Tashkent Intl. Investment Forum
Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs H E Dr. Ahmad bin Mohamed Al-Sayed at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, participated in the fourth edition of the Tashkent International Investment Forum, held in the Uzbek capital from 10 to 12 June 2025.
The event was attended by H E Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, alongside senior government officials, investors, and representatives of economic institutions from around the world.
The State of Qatar’s participation in the Forum reflects the growing depth of bilateral relations with the Republic of Uzbekistan and underscores a commitment to expanding avenues of cooperation in priority economic and investment sectors.
On the sidelines of the Forum, the Minister of State held a series of high-level bilateral meetings with senior officials – including H E Laziz Kudratov Shukratovich, Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan; H E Zavqizoda Zavqi Amin, Minister of Economic Development and Trade of the Republic of Tajikistan; and Elnur Aliyev, Deputy Minister of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as the chairman of the Uzbek Industrial and Construction Bank.
During the meetings, discussions focused on strengthening economic and investment cooperation and expanding partnerships in priority sectors in a manner that serves the mutual interests of all parties.
As part of the visit, the Minister of State toured the exhibition held alongside the Forum, which spanned an area of approximately 6,000 square metres and featured around 90 companies representing more than 10 key sectors of the Uzbek economy — including petrochemicals, retail, engineering, electrical equipment, construction materials, metallurgy, pharmaceuticals, food processing, and others.
The visit provided an opportunity to explore Uzbekistan’s industrial and commercial potential and to examine promising avenues for partnership and collaboration between the two countries.
15/06/2025