In the course of the talks with Tajik Defense Minister, Colonel-General Sherali Mirzo in Tehran, Iran’s Minister of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics Brigadier General Amir Hatami said on April 6 that international sanctions on Iran’s defense sales were lifted last year and now there is no obstacle in this regard.

IRNA says Hatami, highlighting long-lasting friendly ties between Iran and Tajikistan, noted that the two countries have had a great relationship based on a vast area of commonalities, although they have no common border.

Referring to the high potential in expanding ties between the two nations, Iranian defense minister reportedly stressed that this fact has provoked many foes to disrupt the ties.

“Fortunately, international limitation on Iran's arms sales ended in October 2020 based on the UN Security Council Resolution 2231 and now Iran has no problem in exporting defensive goods and equipment,” the Defense Minister went on to say.

He touched on the presence of terrorist groups like ISIS in some countries in the region and underlined that Iran has always rejected any intervention by transregional states in Central Asia and the Middle East under the pretext of fighting terrorism.

Colonel-General Sherali Mirzo, for his part, reportedly put emphasis on Tajikistan’s willingness to expand cooperation with Iran in different areas, including political, military and defense, and all-inclusive cooperation.

He said that cooperation between Iran and Tajikistan in establishing peace, stability, and security in the region is of high significance, according to IRNA.

"Conflicts and insecurity in the region make the cooperation of both countries in fighting terrorism and drug trafficking and consolidating regional security even more important," Mirzo was quoted as saying by IRNA. 

Tajikistan Defense Minister Colonel General Sherali Mirzo arrived in Tehran at the official invitation of Iran's Minister of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics Brigadier General Amir Hatami.

While in Tehran, the Tajik Defense Minister is expected to meet with high-ranking Iranian political and military officials to discuss a wide range of issues related to military-and-technical cooperation.

Recall, Tajikistan and Iran have vowed to boost bilateral cooperation.  On March 29, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon met in Dushanbe with Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on the sidelines of the regional conference themed “Heart of Asia –Istanbul Process.” The Tajik president’s official website says the construction of the Istiqlol Tunnel was recognized as one of the positive examples of the bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Iran.  In connection with the aggravation of geopolitical and geostrategic competition, the growing threats and challenges to security and the situation in Afghanistan, it was found necessary to take joint measures to prevent terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking and transnational organized crime.  The two sides also discussed other areas of bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the areas such as economy, trade, energy, industry, transportation, science and culture.  On March 30, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif held talks with his Tajik counterpart Sirojiddin Muhriddin.  The two discussed the ways to develop bilateral cooperation

Relations between Tajikistan and Iran have come under strain after officials in Tehran invited Muhiddin Kabiri, who chairs the opposition Islamic Renaissance Party (IRPT) banned in Tajikistan, to an international Islamic conference in December 2015.  In 2014, Iran was Tajikistan’s third-largest trade partner with trade turnover amounting to about US$200 million, but due to a relationship crisis, the figures dropped to US$60-70 million in 2015.

In 2019, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani paid a visit to Tajikistan, signaling thaw of relations between the two countries.