EAEU Sees Broader Cooperation with Iran Beyond Free Trade

TEHRAN (Iran News) Andrey Slepnev made the remarks on Friday during a meeting with Iran’s Minister of Industry, Mining, and Trade, Seyed Mohammad Atabak, on the sidelines of the 43rd meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council. The gathering, attended by prime ministers of member states and Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, is being held in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan.

Slepnev noted that the free trade agreement between the EAEU and Iran, which came into effect on May 14, 2025, represents more than just tariff reductions. “This is not merely a free trade agreement—it is a qualitatively new stage of engagement,” he said. “We see opportunities to expand cooperation in key sectors and increase the volume of mutual trade.””EAEU Sees ”

During their talks, Slepnev and Atabak reviewed the initial results of the agreement’s implementation and outlined plans to deepen bilateral cooperation. They also confirmed readiness to hold the first meeting of the Iran–EAEU Joint Committee this autumn, where specific mechanisms for the agreement’s execution will be approved. According to Slepnev, a draft roadmap for trade and economic cooperation is in the final stages of approval.”EAEU Sees ”

Minister Atabak is accompanying First Vice President Aref on his visit to Kyrgyzstan. On Thursday, Cholpon-Ata hosted a restricted-format meeting of EAEU prime ministers, followed by an expanded session on Friday. The Iranian delegation, led by Aref, is participating in both formats.

The EAEU is an intergovernmental economic union comprising Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia. Observer states include Iran, Uzbekistan, Moldova, and Cuba. Iran obtained observer status in 2024 and is seeking full membership.

Speaking before his departure from Tehran on August 14, Aref said attending and addressing the prime ministers’ meeting was one of the main objectives of his two-day trip. He stressed that expanding relations with neighboring countries—especially those in Eurasia—remains a priority for Iran’s 14th government.”EAEU Sees ”

According to Aref, Iran’s cooperation with the EAEU has developed positively over the past year. “In the 14th government, we aim to establish the mechanisms for Iran’s full membership in the EAEU,” he said, noting that economic union membership is generally more complex than joining cultural or political organizations. “Our strategic goal is to prepare the conditions for Iran’s permanent membership.”

Iran and the EAEU signed their free trade agreement on December 25, 2023, in St. Petersburg. Following ratification by the parliaments of all parties, the deal entered into force on May 14, 2025. It eliminates customs tariffs on about 87 percent of goods traded between Iran and EAEU member states.

On June 21, 2025, during a meeting with the president of Iran’s Chamber of Commerce in Moscow, Slepnev announced the preparation of the draft roadmap for free trade cooperation. “We are entering a new phase of partnership with Iran,” he said at the time. “It is important for our entrepreneurs to see each other not as competitors but as partners, so we can combine our potential and technologies to work together in a unified market of 250 million people.”

EAEU Executive Board Chairman Bakytzhan Sagintayev also underscored the significance of the agreement during an August 1, 2025 meeting with Iranian Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali. He emphasized the importance of drafting a precise roadmap for implementing the deal from 2025 to 2028. The document is expected to be approved during the Joint Committee meeting scheduled for September 2025.

With the free trade agreement now in effect, both Iran and the EAEU appear determined to expand cooperation in trade, industry, and beyond, signaling a strategic partnership that could reshape economic ties across Eurasia.