As is known, under the initiative of our esteemed President, the United Nations General Assembly has declared 2025 as the “International Year of Peace and Trust.” Additionally, this year coincides with the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s Permanent Neutrality, which has been recognized twice by the UN General Assembly. In this regard, various international and local events are being organized by the state of Turkmenistan.
As “Atavatan Turkmenistan” international magazine, we are conducting interviews with ambassadors in Turkmenistan regarding the International Year of Peace and Trust and the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s Neutrality.
Our latest interview was with Ali Mojtaba Ruzbehani, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Turkmenistan. During the interview, the Ambassador provided interesting insights into Turkmenistan-Iran cooperation and the significance of Turkmen neutrality.
We present this interview to your attention:
Relations between Turkmenistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran are continuously developing. Could you talk about the steps taken in 2024 to strengthen political, trade-economic, and cultural-humanitarian relations between the two countries?
As one of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s closest neighbors, Turkmenistan holds a special place in Iran’s foreign policy. Beyond mere geographical proximity, the two nations share numerous cultural, historical, religious, and ethnic commonalities. These shared values have laid a strong foundation for deep-rooted and friendly relations in both political and economic spheres.
In 2024, bilateral relations between the two countries advanced dynamically across all sectors. The National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the People’s Council of Turkmenistan, Mr. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, was the first foreign leader to visit Tehran following the formation of Iran’s new government in 2024. Similarly, Iran’s President, Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, visited Ashgabat two months after taking office to attend a forum dedicated to Magtymguly Pyragy. Moreover, in 2024, we witnessed several bilateral visits by high-ranking officials, including the Iranian Minister of Energy, the Governor of the Central Bank, the Deputy Minister of Oil, and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
On the economic front, according to statistics from Iran’s Customs Administration, the trade volume between the two countries in 2024 increased by approximately 20% compared to the previous year. Discussions are underway to elevate bilateral trade to even higher levels. In December 2024, the “Iran Agro Food” exhibition was held in Ashgabat with the participation of several Iranian companies, attracting significant interest from Turkmen participants. Several trade delegations were exchanged between the two countries, including a major Turkmen delegation led by the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan, which visited the “Iran Expo 2024” exhibition.
Given the numerous cultural similarities between the two countries, fruitful cooperation is also being conducted in this field. Cultural, scientific, and sports exchanges between Turkmenistan and Iran continue successfully. Iran’s Minister of Culture and Deputy Minister of Culture visited Turkmenistan to participate in events dedicated to Magtymguly Pyragy. Iranian artists held several exhibitions in Ashgabat, including a fashion and costume exhibition and a tourism fair. Collaboration has also been established with the Turkmen National Institute of World Languages named after Dovletmammed Azady and Magtymguly Turkmen State University, where events honoring prominent Iranian figures were organized. As in previous years, a delegation comprising high-ranking Turkmen officials, university representatives, and cultural figures traveled to Iran to participate in celebrations marking Magtymguly Pyragy’s birthday.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s Permanent Neutrality. How does the Islamic Republic of Iran view Turkmenistan’s neutrality?
Iran’s relations with Turkmenistan date back to the country’s independence in 1991. Iran was among the first countries to recognize Turkmenistan’s independence. Since then, friendly and comprehensive relations have developed between the two countries. When Turkmenistan declared its neutrality and the policy was formally recognized by the United Nations in 1995, the Islamic Republic of Iran immediately expressed its strong support for this historic decision.
Currently, Iran is an open member of the “Group of Friends of Neutrality” and supports all of Turkmenistan’s initiatives aimed at promoting peace and security at international and regional levels. It is evident that Turkmenistan’s adoption of neutrality has enhanced its standing in the region and the world. A neutral Turkmenistan plays a significant role in ensuring stability, peace, and security in the region, benefiting all countries in the vicinity.
For example, last year, under the initiative of Turkmenistan’s President, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution designating 2025 as the “International Year of Peace and Trust.” Just as Iran has supported Turkmenistan’s neutrality policy and previous initiatives, it also fully and decisively supports President Serdar Berdimuhamedov’s latest initiative. This year, joint events will be held in Iran in cooperation with the esteemed Turkmen government to mark this occasion. We firmly believe that Turkmenistan will continue to play a constructive and effective role in advancing peace and trust at both international and regional levels.
Turkmen youth are increasingly interested in studying abroad. Can you discuss cooperation between Turkmenistan and Iran in the field of education?
Both Iran and Turkmenistan have great potential for scientific and university cooperation. Thanks to the efforts of Iranian professors, researchers, and students, Iran is currently a global leader in fields such as nanotechnology and biotechnology. At present, 3.2 million students are studying at Iranian universities, and Iran is the second-largest producer of scientific research among Muslim countries. Additionally, Iran is one of the world’s leading producers of medical isotopes used in oncology and neurology treatments. We are ready to share these scientific achievements with our esteemed Turkmen brothers.
Likewise, we are interested in benefiting from Turkmenistan’s experience and achievements in science and higher education. Furthermore, we are prepared to offer Turkmen students academic scholarships in fields that are of interest to Turkmenistan. In addition to the quality of education in Iranian universities, the geographical proximity of the two countries, the high level of security, cultural similarities, and the low cost of living make Iran an attractive destination for Turkmen students seeking higher education.
Encouragingly, in recent years, memoranda of understanding (MoUs) have been signed to enhance cooperation between universities of the two countries. These agreements allow for faculty and student exchanges between the signatory institutions. Notable examples include the MoU between the Myrat Garryyev Turkmen State Medical University and the Mashhad Ferdowsi University of Medical Sciences, as well as the MoU between the S.A. Niyazov Turkmen Agricultural University and the Gorgan University of Medical Sciences. With the support of the Turkmen government, we are working to establish the necessary legal infrastructure to further develop university cooperation between the two countries.
What can we expect from Turkmen-Iranian relations in 2025?
The unwavering will and determination of the two nations’ esteemed leaders serve as the driving force behind the development of relations between our countries. This is a valuable asset for us, the diplomats of both nations, in fostering the fraternal and mutually beneficial relations between Iran and Turkmenistan.
In this regard, we extend our best wishes to the esteemed leaders and presidents of both nations for their good health, long lives, and continued success in strengthening cooperation and expanding relations.
During a phone conversation on February 10, 2025, between the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the People’s Council of Turkmenistan, Mr. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, and the President of Iran, Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to advancing bilateral cooperation. Encouragingly, both countries have significant potential to increase annual trade turnover to several billion dollars.
In 2025, a trade exhibition showcasing Turkmen products is planned to be held in Iran’s Golestan province. Additionally, an exhibition in Turkmenistan’s Mary province will highlight the economic opportunities of Iran’s Khorasan Razavi province. These exhibitions will effectively raise awareness of the capabilities and expertise of businesses from both countries.
Currently, Iran and Turkmenistan enjoy strong cooperation in transit and energy sectors. Regular meetings between officials responsible for these sectors are held to further enhance collaboration, yielding significant results. Given the geographical locations of both countries along the North-South and East-West transit corridors, we anticipate continued robust growth in bilateral relations throughout 2025. These strengthened ties will not only benefit both nations but also contribute to regional prosperity.