TPO: Trade pacts in place with five nations, three blocs
Iran is currently implementing a network of bilateral and multilateral trade agreements, including preferential deals with five countries and three blocs, with efforts underway to sign new such deals, a senior official at Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization said.
Elham Hajikarimi, head of the Revival Office of Trade Agreements and International Organizations at the TPO, said preferential bilateral trade agreements are in effect with Pakistan, Tunisia, Cuba, Turkey and Bosnia, according to IRNA.
Hajikarimi added that Iran’s trade agreements are being pursued in both bilateral and multilateral formats, with a free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) in force since May 2025. Preferential multilateral agreements are also being implemented with the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
“The product lists of these agreements are published annually in the annexes to Iran’s export and import regulations, allowing exporters and importers to benefit from tariff discounts and related advantages,” she said. a free trade pact with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)
Under preferential trade frameworks, the official said, tariff reductions apply to selected goods traded between Iran and partner countries, while in free trade agreements more than 80% of goods are typically covered by zero tariffs. “A limited list of items remains subject to existing tariffs, special conditions or quotas.”
In the case of Iran’s agreement with the Eurasian bloc, 87% of tariff lines are subject to zero tariffs on both sides, with remaining items listed under negative lists in official regulations, Hajikarimi said.
Iran and the EAEU member states — comprising Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus and Armenia — launched a zero-tariff free trade agreement on May 15, 2025, following seven years of negotiations, and it is now being fully implemented.
Hajikarimi also said additional bilateral agreements have been signed and finalized, with legal procedures underway for implementation, including preferential trade deals with Oman, Uzbekistan and Indonesia.
She said the Eurasian agreement could serve as a model for future trade deals, adding that a key feature of such agreements is the establishment of a clear legal framework governing economic relations, helping ensure trade continuity even during emergencies or crises.
The official added that joint working groups have been formed between Iran and EAEU member states, with cooperation planned in customs, standards and transport. Infrastructure developed in recent years could help sustain and strengthen trade ties during periods of disruption, she said.