Rouhani calls for Eurasian Economic Union cooperation with Iran

Rouhani called for more active trade relations between Iran and the members of the Eurasian Economic Union at the summit. Iran is seeking new economic opportunities after US sanctions and maximum pressure.

Hassan Rouhani traveled to Armenia for two days to attend the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) summit on Monday, September 31. The Iranian president met with his Armenian counterpart, Armen Sarkissian. Armenia and Iran called for “more active economic relations between Iran and the Eurasian Union.”

Although Iran is not a member of the union, it has attended some of its meetings. At last year's meeting, an agreement was signed between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union.

US sanctions and Iran's closer ties to the Eurasian Union

The US withdrawal from the JCPOA and the tightening of sanctions against Iran have brought Iran closer to Russia and the Eurasian Economic Union.

Rouhani's presence at the Eurasian Union summit in Yerevan shows that Iranian officials are seeking to expand their economic relations with their northern neighbors.

In his speech at the Eurasia Summit, Rouhani called for the "international community to confront" the "hostile and unilateral" approach of the United States.

The Iranian president is counting on the support of the Eurasian Union members. Without mentioning the US sanctions against Iran and their impact on the economic situation and livelihoods of the people inside the country, he emphasized that as a result of “US destructive actions,” we are witnessing “increasing poverty, insecurity, migration, and declining economic growth in the world.”

In his remarks, the Iranian President also referred to the escalation of tension in the Persian Gulf and invited countries that have been affected by developments in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz to join the "Coalition of Hope," the "Hormoz Peace Endeavor."

Rouhani's main goal in his trip to Yerevan is to expand and activate Iran's economic relations with the Eurasian Economic Union. In his remarks, he emphasized that Iran has created extensive capacities and infrastructure in the free trade zones in Chabahar, Amirabad, Anzali, and Aras, and that these zones are ready to expand trade cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Union. He further invited investors from the Eurasian Economic Union to use Iran's capabilities and invest in Iran.

Hassan Rouhani, while requesting cooperation in the financial and banking fields, noted that Iran is ready to host investors and entrepreneurs from the Eurasian Economic Union in the near future.