Promising prospects for Iran-Uzbekistan relations
By Abed Akbari
International affairs expert
It has been over three decades since Iran and Uzbekistan established diplomatic ties. Despite the rich historical and cultural bonds shared with Iran, Uzbekistan like the other Central Asian nations, namely Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, remains relatively unknown in Iranian society. Regrettably, the level of bilateral relations has remained largely low and restricted in the past decades.
Central Asia, a landlocked region bordering Russia, China, the Caspian Sea, Afghanistan, and Iran, finds itself amidst the concepts of “new regionalism,” “common home,” “breakthrough,” “economic reforms,” and “competition.” Meanwhile, Iran has undergone significant economic revisions due to the harsh sanctions imposed by the West. Under the current Iranian government, the nation attaches greater importance to its neighbors in its foreign policy than ever before. The United States’ attempt to isolate Iran has forced the emerging economies of Central Asia to give up some of their economic opportunities, affecting the development trends in the region negatively.
Iran has prioritized a policy of “mutual cooperation through good-neighborliness,” emphasizing the need to strengthen comprehensive ties with neighboring nations. This priority has been consistently highlighted by Iran’s Leader, president, and foreign minister on various occasions.
Despite these efforts, the number of official visits between Iran and Central Asia still falls short of meeting the needs and objectives of both sides.
The Iranian government’s focus on “good-neighborliness” and “economic diplomacy” has fostered an environment conducive to the growth of relations between Tehran and Tashkent. However, these relations still fall short of reaching the desired and anticipated level.
Significant developments in Iran-Uzbekistan relations have occurred since the new government assumed office in Iran in August 2021. Two meetings between President Ebrahim Raeisi and his Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev took place on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Dushanbe, Tajikistan (September 2021) and the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) summit in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan (December 2021). Additionally, Abdulaziz Kamilov, Uzbekistan’s foreign minister, participated in the second meeting of Afghanistan’s neighbors in Tehran in November 2021. Furthermore, Ali Shamkhani, the then secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, visited Tashkent in March 2022, further solidifying the importance of these interactions in the realm of Iran-Uzbekistan relations.
During this brief period, Uzbekistan has shown support for changing Iran’s SCO status from an observer to a full member. Moreover, Uzbekistan has displayed continued interest in participating in the Afghanistan-Iran-India transit project through the Chabahar port in southeastern Iran, despite the Taliban assuming power in Afghanistan. Furthermore, there have been ongoing political and security consultations between Iranian and Uzbek authorities regarding the developments in Afghanistan and the approach to dealing with the Islamic Emirate under the Taliban. These instances clearly demonstrate the positive and upward trajectory of Iran-Uzbekistan relations.
However, it is important to acknowledge that despite more than three decades of diplomatic relations, and considering the significant changes and developments in Uzbekistan’s foreign policy under Mirziyoyev, there is still room for improvement in Tehran-Tashkent ties to reach their optimal point.
In recent years, the relationship between Iran and Uzbekistan has been progressing, offering hope for further expansion and reaching a favorable level in the near future. Both the Uzbekistan and Iranian governments have ongoing cooperation plans, facilitating increased collaboration and communication between ministries and economic actors. Plus, the friendship group of the two countries’ parliaments, holds significant importance in advancing this agenda.
There is an optimistic outlook for the economic and trade relations between Iran and Uzbekistan to reach a suitable level. The latest visit of Uzbekistan’s president to Iran holds oud the promise for the signing of crucial documents, further stimulating economic growth and development in both nations.