A senior expert from Tajik state-run think tank assesses current relations between Tajikistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran as “quite satisfactory.”
In a report released at a news conference in Dushanbe, the deputy head of the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of Tajikistan, Sayfullo Safarov, noted on July 10 that the current relations between Tajikistan and Iran are quite satisfactory.
“I would not describe Tajikistan’s relations with Iran as bad. But I will not say that they are excellent. Our relations with Iran are quite satisfactory. There are no any acute conflicts in relations between our countries,” said Safarov.
“A certain slump has occurred in relations between Tajikistan and Iran lately. But it is quite natural. After too good relations between the two countries a certain slump usually occurs.”
Recall, the relation between Iran and Tajikistan started to descend after the wanted IRPT leader Muhiddin Kabiri, accused in terrorism in Tajikistan, was invited to a conference in Tehran entitled “Islamic Revival” on December 27-29, 2015 and was received by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Tajikistan immediately issued a note of protest to Iran. Tajikistan's Foreign Ministry has summoned Iran's Ambassador to Dushanbe to express “regret” against this act and the head of the Council of Ulema of Tajikistan described Iran’s invitation to Muhiddin Kabiri as “abetting terrorism.”
In a reprisal, the Tajik customs service last year introduced restrictions on the import of food products from Iran. Dry leaf tea, poultry and other goods were ruled unacceptable for their allegedly poor quality.
The year 2016 reportedly evidenced the lowest relations between the two countries since Tajikistan obtained independence in 1991.
In July 2016, the Tajik office of Iran’s Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation, an Iranian charitable organization, was shut down.
EurasiaNet.org reported on July 8 that an Iranian trade and culture center in Tajikistan’s northern Sughd province has closed its doors.
As of July, Tajikistan’s Foreign Ministry has reportedly resumed its practice of issuing expedited visas in its main international airports, but Iran is, along with Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, among the countries excluded from the list of beneficiary nations.
While relations with Iran may have chilled, Tajikistan has eagerly cultivated those with Saudi Arabia, mainly for financial support, according to EurasiaNet.org. In May, Saudi Arabia’s development fund provided $35 million to build 30 middle schools in Tajikistan’s provinces. There is even talk — more hopeful than factual so far — that Riyadh might even consider putting down some cash toward the building of the Roghun mega-dam.
