Tajikistan and Iran are aiming to abolish visa requirements for ground travel and expand cooperation in the field of security. This issue was discussed during the visit of the Iranian Minister of Internal Affairs, Eskandar Momeni, to Tajikistan and his meeting with the President.
On April 22-23, 2025, Eskandar Momeni, the Iranian Minister of Internal Affairs, was on an official visit to Tajikistan. During his meeting with Emomali Rahmon, the President of Tajikistan, the issue of abolishing visa requirements for land travel between the two countries was discussed.
While the Tajik president’s press service has not provided details, Iranian media quoted Eskandar Momeni as saying, “It was decided that the next step would be to abolish visas for land travel and create comfortable travel conditions for citizens of both countries.”
Meanwhile, the Tajik president’s press service reported that the meeting also addressed the bilateral relations between Tajikistan and Iran, particularly in the areas of legal order and security.
"During the discussion, the expansion of cooperation regarding the serious concerns in the modern world, the intensification of geopolitical competition, and contemporary threats and dangers was also covered," the press service wrote.
A particular focus of the discussion was strengthening cooperation between the interior ministries of both countries.
As a result, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation between the interior ministries of both countries was signed. Under this document, the parties are ready to collaborate in combating organized crime, terrorism, human trafficking, and drug trafficking.
This document was signed on April 22 by Ramazon Rahimzoda, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan, and his Iranian counterpart, Eskandar Momeni..
Momeni expressed optimism that the implementation of the MoU would strengthen security in Iran and Tajikistan.
He also said that addressing issues like terrorism, narcotics, and organized crime—classified as regional and cross-border challenges—could serve as a foundation for closer bilateral cooperation.
Tajik Interior Minister Ramazon Rahimzoda, for his part, expressed interest in exchanging experience and knowledge, as well as utilizing some police equipment.
As of now, the Tajik side has not provided further details regarding the signing of the security memorandum.
Fars News Agency (FNA) reports that Eskandar Momeni also visited the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan and its museum, as well as the Nurek hydropower plant on April 23.
This is the second high-ranking Iranian official visit to Tajikistan over the past week. On April 15-17, Ali Najafi Khushroudi, the First Deputy Vice=President of Iran, heading an official delegation, visited Tajikistan and met with a number of high-ranking Tajik state officials, including the prime minister.
Additionally, Emomali Sobirzoda, the Minister of Defense of Tajikistan, visited Iran on April 14-16. During his visit, he met with several senior Iranian officials.
It is worth noting that after the visit of Masoud Pizishkian to Tajikistan and the signing of 23 new cooperation agreements in various fields, the bilateral relations between the two countries and visits by high-ranking officials have significantly increased.
Also, at the beginning of 2025, Tajikistan and Iran fully lifted the visa system for air travel between the two countries.
Iran and Tajikistan implemented a visa-waiver agreement on February 2, marking a significant step in bilateral relations between the two countries. The arrangement allows holders of ordinary passports to travel by air between the nations without visas for stays up to 30 days within any 90-day period.
The agreement, stemming from a memorandum signed during former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's visit to Dushanbe in November 2023, received approval from Tajikistan's government on January 3 and subsequent confirmation from Iran's Cabinet of Ministers.
