Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will make his first state visit to Tajikistan in the second half of January and meet with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon. This was reported by an "Asia-Plus" source in the Tajik Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to the source, in addition to the meeting between the two countries' leaders, the visit will include other meetings, negotiations, and the signing of various documents.
The delegation will also include a group of high-ranking Iranian entrepreneurs who will discuss cooperation with their Tajik counterparts.
"As part of the Iranian president’s visit to Tajikistan on January 15–16, a large delegation of Iranian businessmen, led by the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and representatives from the industrial, mining, and agricultural sectors of Iran, will arrive in Dushanbe," reports the website of the Iranian Chamber of Commerce.
According to the source, the visit’s program includes a business forum, B2B meetings with Tajik companies and officials, visits to industrial and trade facilities, and a meeting at the Iranian embassy.
Additionally, ISNA reports that a group of Iranian doctors will accompany the delegation to Tajikistan to exchange experiences with their Tajik colleagues.
From the Creation of the "Rudaki" School to the Expansion of Direct Flights
It is worth noting that Tajikistan's ambassador to Iran, Nizomiddin Zohidi, recently held talks with two senior Iranian officials regarding the establishment of a joint international school, "Rudaki," in Dushanbe.
According to the Tajik ambassador, the construction and operation of the "Rudaki" school face challenges in three areas: ownership, textbook content, and management.
In this regard, Nizomiddin Zohidi asked Iran’s Minister of Education, Alireza Kazemi, to expedite the resolution of these issues so that the school can begin operations as soon as possible.
The creation of a Joint Cooperation Committee between Tajikistan and Iran is also expected. In this context, the Tajik ambassador held talks with Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, Reza Salehi Amiri.
Plans are being considered to establish direct flights between Dushanbe and Shiraz. Currently, direct flights operate between Dushanbe and Tehran, as well as Dushanbe and Mashhad.
Another initiative involves the joint production of a feature film about the cultural and historical heritage of the two countries, which will be filmed in multiple languages.
At this time, it is unknown whether these issues will be discussed during the meeting between Emomali Rahmon and Masoud Pezeshkian. However, it is clear that this visit will open a new chapter in relations between the two countries.
The Complex Path of Bilateral Relations
It should be noted that after the death of former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in July 2024, Masoud Pezeshkian was elected as Iran’s new president.
Emomali Rahmon attended his inauguration ceremony, where Masoud Pezeshkian emphasized the need to strengthen cooperation with Tajikistan, stressing that efforts should focus on reducing political barriers and enhancing collaboration.
The two leaders met for a second time on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, where they discussed security, economic, scientific, and cultural issues, as well as aid to Afghanistan.
This visit will be Masoud Pezeshkian’s first official trip to Tajikistan as Iran’s president.
After years of lukewarm relations, ties between the two countries began to improve with the rise to power of Ebrahim Raisi in August 2021.
In 2021, trade turnover between the two nations increased to $120 million, while in 2022, Iranian investments in Tajikistan’s economy amounted to approximately $33 million.
CentralAsiaLIGHT.org
January 6, 2025