Iran’s share of Russia’s $300 billion import market remains minimal despite efforts to boost trade ties, according to Mohammad Ali Dehghan Dehnavi, head of Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization (TPO). Speaking at the inaugural Iran-Russia Trade Development Summit held on Wednesday in the Anzali Free Zone, Dehghan Dehnavi emphasized the need to expand Iran’s presence in the Russian market, which imports about $300 billion worth of goods annually from various countries.
Dehghan Dehnavi highlighted the significance of the Iran-Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement, which took effect in April 2025. Under this pact, tariffs on 87 percent of goods traded between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union—of which Russia is the largest member—have been abolished. This tariff elimination is designed to enhance the competitiveness of Iranian exporters in the region.
Despite these favorable conditions, Iran’s current exports to Russia stand at roughly $1 to $2 billion, a figure the TPO head believes can be raised significantly. He cited studies indicating that Iran is capable of supplying over $50 billion worth of goods that overlap with Russia’s import needs, suggesting that Iran’s export volume could potentially increase to between $10 billion and $20 billion with proper activation of these capacities.
Gilan province, located in northern Iran, was identified as a strategic trade hub due to its logistical connections via sea, rail, and land routes to Russia as well as neighboring countries such as Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan. Dehghan Dehnavi pointed out ongoing infrastructure projects, including parts of a rail network that links the region to Russia, Kazakhstan, and China, facilitating the transit of goods through Anzali Port. He urged completion of infrastructure and greater private sector involvement to maximize the province’s trade potential.
The summit also underscored the importance of fostering direct communication between Iranian and Russian economic actors to promote investment and joint ventures. Dehghan Dehnavi recalled the long-standing commercial ties between Gilan and Russia’s Astrakhan province and encouraged expanding cooperation beyond trade to include joint investments.
Addressing challenges, Dehghan Dehnavi acknowledged that international sanctions and foreign restrictions, combined with internal issues such as complex regulations and bureaucratic hurdles, continue to impede trade development. However, he stated that the Iranian government is actively working to alleviate domestic obstacles. He referenced an export support package recently drafted by the Ministry of Industry, Mining and Trade, as well as regulatory reforms under consideration by the Government Economic Commission with input from the Central Bank and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance. One proposed reform seeks to simplify the order registration process, shifting certain controls to the customs clearance phase to facilitate smoother trade flows.
Dehghan Dehnavi highlighted the resilience of Iran’s private sector in overcoming these difficulties and expressed optimism that the summit’s initiatives would translate into increased exports from Gilan to Russia and other countries in the near future. He additionally announced the establishment of a new trade mission in Gilan aimed at strengthening ties with a Chinese province, viewing it as an opportunity to leverage emerging trade capacities through strategic planning.