Iran proposes creating a single economic space with Central Asian countries
Iran has proposed creating a single economic space that would unite the markets of Iran, the countries of Central Asia. Iranian Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance Mehdi Heydari made the proposal at the TIF 2026 Turkmen Investment Forum in Ashgabat.
According to the Iranian representative, modern investment in the region should go beyond individual national markets and contribute to establishing closer economic ties among the countries.
Heydari identified the International North–South Transport Corridor, the Middle Corridor, as well as the development of logistics links between the Caspian region, the Persian Gulf and international trade routes as the infrastructure foundation for such integration.
As the deputy minister noted, Iran is ready to provide the Central Asian countries with access to the ports of the Persian Gulf and the markets of the Middle East. He described Turkmenistan as a strategic bridge for Iran to the broader Eurasian economic space.
Energy was identified as one of the key areas of cooperation. Iran proposes expanding the use of gas-swap potential, developing infrastructure for the transportation, storage and processing of energy resources, and further deepening cooperation in the petrochemical sector.
Particular attention was also paid to transport and logistics. According to Heydari, investments in the modernization of railways and highways, bridges, border terminals and logistics centers along the Caspian Sea would help reduce the time and financial costs of regional trade.
The Iranian side also proposed developing cooperation in agriculture and the food industry. The proposal involves combining the agricultural production of Central Asian countries with Iran's processing, packaging and rapid-delivery capabilities in order to jointly enter international markets.
Industrial investment was identified as another area. Iran proposes making more active use of the potential of free and special economic zones, which could serve as platforms for projects with access to both domestic markets and transit routes.
Heydari also called for moving from the accumulated experience of bilateral cooperation toward a “new generation of investments” — projects capable of creating sustainable supply chains and strengthening economic ties among the countries of the region.
The Iranian side stated its readiness to continue dialogue with Turkmenistan, the Central Asian countries and international investors to implement joint projects.
