Sanctions and Financial Hurdles Impede Serious Steps in Trade

TEHRAN (Iran News) Aqaee reflected on Iran Expo 2024, noting that while the event attracted over 3,000 foreign visitors, many of them were not professional traders. He emphasized the critical role of joint chambers of commerce in inviting targeted foreign guests to such events. “In Iran Expo 2024, we had a large number of foreign visitors, but many were not professional traders,” he said. Looking ahead to Iran Expo 2025, Aqaee expressed hope that collaboration between the Iran Chamber of Commerce, joint chambers, and embassies of target countries would ensure a more refined selection of attendees, prioritizing professional traders.

Despite limited resources, Aqaee stressed the need for purposeful action at Iran Expo 2025, stating, “The expo undoubtedly contributes to enhancing our export capabilities. Many visitors are astonished when they see our potential.” He added that such events serve as a platform for public diplomacy, allowing foreign traders to discover the capabilities of Iranian companies firsthand.

However, Aqaee pointed out a major barrier to capitalizing on this interest: “Traders from various countries visit Iran, witness our capabilities, and show great enthusiasm for cooperation and signing contracts. But due to FATF issues and sanctions, we cannot initiate serious collaboration.” The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) restrictions and ongoing sanctions continue to limit Iran’s ability to engage fully in international trade.

To address these challenges, Aqaee called for stronger government-level negotiations, noting that some issues cannot be resolved solely by the private sector. “These problems require agreements at the governmental level,” he said.

In preparation for Iran Expo 2025, the Iran-Uzbekistan Joint Chamber of Commerce is actively inviting Uzbek traders and organizing events, including B2B meetings with Iranian counterparts, to foster trade ties despite the existing constraints.