TPO calls EAEU trade pact a ‘model’ as exports rise 16%
Iran's exports to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) grew by about 16 percent over the past year despite numerous political and security challenges, a senior trade official said, calling the regional trade pact a “successful model” for expanding non-oil exports.
Amir Roshanbakhsh Qanbari, deputy for international business promotion at Iran's Trade Promotion Organization (TPO), said in an interview with Mehr news agency that the growth demonstrates how effective regional trade agreements can be in developing the country's foreign trade amid difficult conditions.
"Last year, the country faced numerous political and security events, but despite these conditions, Iran's exports to Eurasian member countries increased by about 16 percent," Qanbari was quoted as saying.
"This shows how much trade and regional agreements can be effective in developing the country's foreign trade. We must use all the capacities of regional and international agreements to expand non-oil exports."
Qanbari described the EAEU as a "successful and practical model of regional economic cooperation" that took shape under the current administration.
His comments come as the free trade agreement between Iran and the EAEU — comprising Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan — marks its first anniversary. The agreement, which took effect on May 15, 2025, replaced an interim preferential trade deal signed in 2018 and grants preferential tariff access for more than 7,500 categories of goods, covering 87 percent of traded items.
Qanbari said the anniversary provides an opportunity to assess the agreement's performance and achievements over the past year, particularly in connecting Iran's economy more closely to regional economies and free markets.
According to official figures, total trade between Iran and EAEU member states has expanded more than 2.5-fold since the initial preferential agreement was implemented, rising from about $2.5 billion to nearly $6 billion in 2023.
The agreement also serves as a key component of Iran's broader strategy to diversify its trade partners and logistics corridors as southern ports remain under US naval blockade following the 40-day conflict with the United States and Israel that began on February 28.