22% Increase in Exports to Eurasia This Spring

TEHRAN (Iran News) According to a statement published by the TPO, trade agreements between countries are governed by international trade laws and are intended to facilitate and expand commerce between the parties. Therefore, banning imports—except in specific cases such as religious prohibitions—from other signatories of such agreements would constitute a significant breach of the deal.

The statement further emphasized that all goods, including pets, are assigned individual codes under the international goods classification system. However, this categorization should not be used as a pretext to undermine the positive impact of trade agreements in streamlining trade flows.

The TPO highlighted that free trade agreements are a modern tool widely adopted globally in recent years to facilitate commerce. For example, Turkey has signed 24 such agreements with its trade partners. Iran’s free trade agreement with the EAEU—its first of this kind—can play a key role in boosting trade with the five member states: Russia, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, and Belarus.

The statement reiterated that these trade deals are also strategic tools to counter economic sanctions, which aim to restrict Iran’s commercial activities. Free trade agreements, on the other hand, ease these constraints, making them a vital part of Iran’s economic strategy.

Despite an overall decline in Iran’s global exports during the first quarter of the current year, exports to EAEU countries rose by 22% in value. This growth is attributed to the trade agreement with the Eurasian bloc, which initially came into effect on October 27, 2019, and was upgraded to a full free trade agreement on May 14, 2025. Since the deal’s implementation, Iran’s exports to EAEU countries have grown from $600 million to $2 billion annually.

In addressing the pet import rumors, the TPO stressed that Iran’s imports from Eurasia consist mainly of essential goods such as wheat, barley, oilseeds, crude oil, livestock corn, various types of wood, meat, and investment items like gold. Non-essential items such as pets are not among the major imports.

The organization urged the media to exercise accuracy and integrity when reporting on foreign trade matters, which have a significant impact on economic development and social stability. It concluded by cautioning that the recent reports on pet imports are not only incorrect but also appear suspiciously aimed at undermining the benefits of the free trade agreement with Eurasia. The TPO called on media professionals to remain vigilant and avoid publishing misleading news that could harm Iran’s international trade relations.