Iranian President Pezeshkian Makes First Official Visit to Kazakhstan

The Iranian president has arrived in Astana for an official visit, Orda.kz reports.

Toqayev and Pezeshkian met in Aqorda, where they first spoke privately.

This is Pezeshkian’s first official trip to Kazakhstan. Toqayev told him that Kazakhstan considers Iran a close neighbor and partner in the Caspian region.

There's a saying: 'When neighbors are friends, it's a blessing.' Despite all the difficulties, we continue to develop our ties. Trade and economic cooperation is growing. Over the past 10 months, we've seen a 40% increase compared to 2024,
 Aqorda’s press service quoted Toqayev.

He also conveyed his greetings to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Pezeshkian said he was confident the visit would deepen cooperation, highlighting the significance of political, economic, humanitarian, and security ties.

Economic Engagement

During the extended meeting with both delegations, the focus shifted to practical matters — mainly trade.

Contacts between our countries date back to the days of the Great Silk Road. Our positions coincide on many international and regional issues. We previously agreed to increase mutual trade volumes to three billion dollars. The free trade agreement between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union provides a solid foundation for expanding ties,
 the Iranian president said.

Kazakhstan announced it is ready to supply Iran with $200 million worth of goods, and the idea of opening a Kazakhstan Trade House in Tehran received support.

Iranian investment projects in Kazakhstan were also mentioned, including a cheese plant in the Almaty region and a leather-processing facility in West Kazakhstan.

A series of documents was signed in the presence of both leaders, including:

• A treaty on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters
• A protocol to the agreement on international road transport
• Cooperation programs between the foreign ministries and a cultural exchange plan for 2026–2028
• Memoranda on intellectual property, transport and logistics, and healthcare
• A cooperation document between national broadcasters

Iran's Experience

Kazakhstan values its partnership with Iran largely because of logistics — Iran is a crucial gateway to the Persian Gulf and Türkiye. Political analyst Gaziz Abishev argues that Kazakhstan could also learn from Iran’s long-term experience living under sanctions.

How are they developing import substitution, how are they preserving domestic production chains, how are they supporting infrastructure? How is the government apparatus functioning overall? Not in the sense that Kazakhstan is preparing itself for sanctions. But in the sense that at the current historical juncture, survival skills and the know-how to reduce dependence on foreign markets are very useful. And, of course, the Persians are a talented, hardworking, and powerful nation,
 Abishev wrote on Telegram.

He added that Iran’s natural resources, transit location, and population give it strong potential — and that the country could achieve far more if relations with regional and global powers improved.

Original Author: Zarina Fayzulina