Promising prospects ...
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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.