Tajik ambassador: Dushanbe does not support sanctions against Iran
Nizamuddin Zahedi says sanctions harm no nation and often breach international law; Tehran–Dushanbe ties described as a growing strategic partnership with expanding trade and cooperation.
Tajikistan’s ambassador to Iran, Nizamuddin Zahedi, states that sanctions on Iran are not in anyone’s interest and are often illegal. He cites five pillars of Iran–Tajikistan cooperation—shared culture, high-level dialogue, trade growth, cultural exchanges, and security cooperation—and notes trade rising from $55 million in 2020 to $450 million in 2025, with a goal of $1 billion. He also highlights 18 joint commissions and ongoing Afghanistan-related cooperation, while reiterating Tajikistan’s stance against sanctions.
Tehran — IRNA — Tajikistan’s ambassador to Iran, Nizamuddin Zahedi, said on the occasion of Tajikistan’s 35th independence anniversary that sanctions against Iran are not in the interest of any country and that many sanctions violate international law. “Sanctions are not in the interest of any country, and many sanctions violate international law; with that, in today’s world sanctions are used as tools and levers to resolve political issues,” he told a news briefing. Zahedi highlighted the long-standing Tehran–Dushanbe relationship and said that over the past 35 years the two countries have worked to develop their bilateral ties, which he described as a strategic partnership. He outlined five key drivers of their cooperation: shared historical, linguistic and cultural values; continuous high-level political dialogue; growing trade; cultural cooperation; and joint efforts to counter shared threats such as terrorism, organized crime and drug trafficking. He noted that bilateral trade has surged, from about $55 million in 2020 to $450 million in 2025, with a target of reaching $1 billion. He pointed to the existence of cultural exchanges and the will to expand cooperation in these areas as well. Zahedi also described mechanisms for deepening ties, including 18 joint commissions held in Tehran and in Dushanbe, the latest of which occurred last month in Dushanbe, and said the commissions produce concrete decisions to advance relations. On Afghanistan, he said Tajikistan remains engaged economically and commercially, including exporting electricity and maintaining border markets, while using Afghan territory as a transit route for cooperation with Iran, though there are political differences with the current Afghan authorities. Source: IRNA.