BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 28. Turkmenistan and
Iran have discussed expanding bilateral trade and economic
cooperation, as well as strengthening ties in the energy and
industrial sectors.
This was reflected in a press release published by the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan following a meeting between
Deputy Foreign Minister Ahmet Gurbanov and Iranian Deputy Foreign
Minister for Economic Diplomacy Hamid Ghanbari, held in Ashgabat
today.
In the course of the meeting, the sides exchanged views on
opportunities to expand trade, strengthen business contacts and
create favorable conditions for joint economic projects and
initiatives.
The parties also discussed further cooperation in energy,
industry and other areas of mutual interest, emphasizing the
importance of continued dialogue and contacts between relevant
institutions.
Meanwhile, Iran is one of Turkmenistan's longest-standing
regional partners, with bilateral cooperation spanning energy,
transport, trade, and border connectivity. The two countries share
a 1,100-kilometer border and maintain an institutional dialogue
through a Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic
Cooperation, which regularly reviews progress across sectors
ranging from gas and electricity to transport, customs,
agriculture, and investment. During the commission's latest meeting
in Tehran in 2025, the sides also discussed the creation of
cross-border trade and economic zones to stimulate bilateral
commerce.
Energy remains a cornerstone of the relationship. In recent
years, Ashgabat and Tehran have expanded cooperation on natural gas
supplies, including swap arrangements and discussions on direct
exports and transit through Iran to third-country markets. The two
sides have also advanced cooperation in electricity transmission
and maritime transport, while recent high-level meetings resulted
in agreements covering natural gas, customs cooperation, port
partnerships between Turkmenbashi and Amirabad, and
intergovernmental cooperation plans.
Transport and logistics have become another major pillar of
bilateral ties as both countries seek to strengthen regional
connectivity. Turkmenistan and Iran have been working to increase
cargo flows across their shared border, improve road, rail, and
port links, and enhance multimodal transport routes connecting
Central Asia with the Persian Gulf and broader international
markets.
