Tajik Ambassador: Dushanbe Does Not Support Sanctions Against Iran
Ambassador Nizamuddin Zahedi says sanctions harm all sides and Tajikistan does not back them
In a Tehran press briefing marking Tajikistan’s independence anniversary, Tajikistan’s ambassador in Iran, Nizamuddin Zahedi, reiterated Tajikistan’s opposition to sanctions on Iran, arguing they harm all sides and violate international law. He outlined a deep, expanding Iran-Tajikistan partnership built on shared history and culture, high-level dialogue, and rising trade (from $55 million in 2020 to $450 million in 2025, with a goal of $1 billion). He noted 18 joint commission meetings and described ongoing cultural and security cooperation, as well as Afghanistan-related collaborations and differences with its current rulers.
Tehran - IRNA: Tajikistan’s ambassador in Iran, Nizamuddin Zahedi, stressed his country’s opposition to sanctions on Iran, saying sanctions do not benefit any country and many violate international law. He added that, unfortunately, sanctions are today used as tools or levers to resolve political issues, which Tajikistan does not support.
Speaking at a news briefing marking Tajikistan’s 35th independence anniversary, Zahedi described independence as the greatest blessing for Tajikistan after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and noted that Tajiks gained the ability to determine their own destiny. He reviewed Tehran-Dushanbe relations over the past three decades, saying Iran and Tajikistan have, despite ups and downs, sought to develop bilateral ties and that a strategic partnership now exists. He highlighted shared historical, linguistic, and cultural values as a long-standing bond that links the two peoples in a common civilizational space and fosters mutually beneficial cooperation.
Zahedi said sustained high-level political dialogue has been a key driver of the relationship, noting that Imam Ali Rahman, Tajikistan’s president, has visited Iran 22 times in the last 30 years in official and working capacity, while Iranian presidents have visited Tajikistan 16 times. He pointed to growing commercial ties as a third important factor, with bilateral trade rising from about $55 million in 2020 to $450 million in 2025, and he affirmed shared expectations to reach $1 billion in the future.
Cultural cooperation was described as the fourth pillar, with Tajikistan and Iran sharing culture, language, and history and aiming to expand joint cultural activities in their mutual interests. Zahedi also highlighted cooperation to counter shared threats, including terrorism, organized crime, and drug trafficking, noting that 18 joint commissions have been held in Tehran and Dushanbe, with the latest one convened recently in Dushanbe.
Regarding Afghanistan, Zahedi said there are political differences with the current Afghan rulers but that economic and trade cooperation continues, including Tajikistan’s electricity exports to Afghanistan and the existence of border markets; Afghanistan is viewed as a transit territory for cooperation with Iran, albeit with disagreements on some political issues that are not hidden from anyone.