Iran03 October, 20262 min read
Iran’s First Vice President Aref Tells EAEU Iran Is Ready for Long-Term Partnership
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Iran ready for a long-term partnership with the Eurasian Economic Union. Aref says Iran will be an active, reliable, long-term partner with the EAEU.
EAEU partnership pitch
Iran’s first vice president Aref told the Eurasian Economic Union Intergovernmental Council meeting that the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to participate as an active, reliable, and long-term partner in expanding economic and regional cooperation with the EAEU. Iran’s ambassador to Belarus read the message late on Friday as prime ministers and high-ranking officials of the EAEU attended the session.
Aref emphasized “genuine multilateralism, mutual respect, and the equal rights of nations,” and he described the EAEU as “a key platform for expanding regional cooperation.” Aref also condemned “the military aggression by the United States and Zionist regime against the Islamic Republic of Iran,” calling it a “blatant violation” of international law, the UN Charter, and the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of independent states.
Trade talks in Minsk
Mohammad Ali Dehghan Dehnavi, head of Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization, told EAEU Trade Minister Slepnev that Iran-EAEU trade is rising despite global hurdles. Dehghan Dehnavi said, “Despite all challenges and problems, trade statistics between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union have taken an upward trend,” and he added that the trend “promises bright prospects for the development of trade relations in the future.”
Dehghan Dehnavi also said Iran maintains regular trade cooperation with Russia and other members of the union, and he emphasized that Iran is “striving to make these ties deeper than before.” Dehghan Dehnavi expressed hope that the second Iran-EAEU joint committee meeting will be held soon in Tehran, describing it as a “valuable opportunity” to connect private sectors and create new economic partnerships.
What comes next
Iran’s officials tied the next steps to follow-on coordination, with Dehghan Dehnavi traveling to Minsk for the 19th meeting of the Joint Economic Cooperation Commission of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Belarus. The Tehran Times report said the free trade agreement between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union came into force in May 2025 after legal procedures, and it eliminated customs duties on 87% of goods in bilateral trade.
The report also said Iran’s Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance proposed initiatives including setting a base currency to accelerate transactions and appointing special representatives to resolve obstacles facing bilateral trade. TV BRICS reported that bilateral trade exchanges between Iran and Belarus reached US$76 million in 2025, and it said plans are underway to establish a dedicated trade pavilion to facilitate commerce between Iran and EAEU member states.