Following high-level talks, Tajikistan and Iran have signed a joint statement and four additional agreements aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation across key sectors.

The joint statement was signed by Tajikistan’s Prime Minister Kohir Rasulzoda and Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Aref, the Tajik state-run news agency Khovar reports.

As part of expanding collaboration, the following agreements were signed:

• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Establishment of the Iran-Tajik Technology Center, between the Agency for Innovations and Digital Technologies under the President of Tajikistan and Iran’s Organization for International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Development.
• An Additional Agreement No. 2 to the electricity purchase contract between the state company Barqi Tojik and the management company of the Sangtuda Sangob hydropower project.
• A MoU on Cooperation in Labor and Employment, between the Research Institute of Labor, Migration and Employment of the Tajik Ministry of Labor and the Iranian institution “Labor and Social Welfare.”
• A MoU on Rail Transport between the Tajik Railways and Iran Railways regarding the transit of Iranian railcars across Tajikistan.

This visit and series of negotiations come amid increased bilateral dialogue.  Earlier in May, the 17th session of the Joint Tajik-Iranian Commission on Economic, Trade, and Scientific-Technical Cooperation was held in Shiraz, Iran.

At that meeting, it was reported that a two-way trade between the two countries last year valued at US$377.7 million — a 48.4% increase compared to 2023.  Over the first quarter of 2025, the bilateral trade between Tajikistan and Iran has reportedly increased by US42.9%, reaching US$110.6 million.

The Commission’s final statement expressed optimism that the volume of bilateral cooperation could rise to half a billion dollars.

It is also worth recalling that in January, during the visit of the Iranian President to Tajikistan, 23 cooperation documents were signed covering industry, energy, medicine, and agriculture.  

Business forum agreements between entrepreneurs from both countries at that time exceeded US$450 million, marking a significant step in expanding investment partnerships.

Meanwhile, Iranian media reports say Vice President Mohammad-Reza Aref arrived in Dushanbe to participate in the International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation in Dushanbe 2025.

IRNA reports that Aref’s visit comes at the official invitation of Tajikistan’s Prime Minister Qohir Rasoulzoda for a bilateral meeting and to attend the conference.  

Before departing, he highlighted Tajikistan’s significance as a friendly and linguistically close nation to Iran, saying that strengthening ties with Tajikistan is a key focus of Iran’s foreign policy.

Speaking at a meeting of two delegations in Dushanbe yesterday, Aref reportedly offered the formation of a joint committee on Persian language, literature, and civilization between Iran and Tajikistan.

According to IRNA, he further noted that one of the advantages in the relationship between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Tajikistan is their geographical proximity and presence in a single civilizational region, which has facilitated relations between the two countries over the past three decades.

Aref also said that the political relations between the two countries are at their highest level, which can work as a role model for the enhancement of relations in other sectors.

He also said that Iran was ready to transfer its “remarkable advances” in science and technology to Tajikistan, adding, “We believe that the advances achieved in Iran should be shared with friendly countries.”

Tajikistan’s Prime Minister, Qohir Rasulzoda, for his part, reportedly said in this meeting that the steadfast determination of Iran to reinforce relations with Tajikistan reflects the brotherly, sincere, and friendly ties between two nations that share the same language and history.