Iran Press/ Europe: "Such perspective exists," he said, answering a question from TASS News Agency, whether the two countries may agree to a visa-free regime this year.
"We as the Islamic Republic of Iran agree to cancel visas between the two countries. And we have even made steps on this issue on our side. We are waiting for Russian officials’ opinion. Should Russia, just like we did, state its readiness, we could have declared a visa-free regime within a short time span," the Iranian diplomat noted.
Jalali underscored that Iran has conveyed this information to the Russian side.
"If Russia makes such decision at the highest level, we will be able to declare visa-free regime in the upcoming months in 2023," the envoy added. "The Islamic Republic of Iran not only agrees, but it is working on this issue."
Tehran also offered Moscow to begin this process by withdrawing visas for businessmen and drivers, "who play an important role in development of trade."
Further promotion of national currencies
Russia and Iran should work further on abandoning the dollar and promoting the use of national currencies in mutual trade, Iran’s ambassador to Moscow Kazem Jalali said.
"We must move towards the use of our national currencies, use the ruble and the rial in trade. The Central Bank of Iran (CBI) put the ruble as a convertible currency at the auction in 2022; today, it is an acceptable currency in Iran. Sixty percent of our trade is carried out using the rial and the ruble. We need to make the dollar even less effective," he said.
The Iranian envoy also noted that Iran is promoting the idea of connecting its payment systems with Russia. Other countries that do not want to use SWIFT can join this initiative, he said. Jalali pointed out that settlements in national currencies can be more deeply integrated within different associations.
"The ruble can be used as the main currency of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), as in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization(SCO), other currencies can be used - the national currencies of China or Russia <...> Also BRICS - countries such as Russia, China and Iran play a major role in the organization. We can use national currencies to neutralize the role of the dollar in our trade operations," the diplomat concluded.
Trade can grow significantly if barriers removed
Jalali believes that trade between the two countries can grow significantly if Moscow and Tehran manage to remove a number of existing obstacles.
"As for our capabilities, of course, we will be able to increase it (trade turnover) to $20 bln, 30 bln, 40 bln. Of course, we can do it," the Iranian envoy said.
However, according to him, Russia and Iran need to remove a number of obstacles in order to achieve the desired volume of bilateral trade.
In particular, the Iranian diplomat mentioned logistical obstacles. According to Jalali, the most serious difficulties with the transit of goods arise in the section in the Caspian Sea, where "goods are delayed." Also, in his opinion, the two states need to expand the existing road supply routes and pay attention to the development of the railway infrastructure.
Iran expects free trade zone with EAEU to start working this year
According to Kazem Jalali, the agreement is currently at the stage of ratification in the parliaments of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) countries and Iran.
"We hope that in 2023 we will see the ratification of this agreement (on a free trade zone with the EAEU)," he said.
"After that a lot of goods will be subject to the abolition of [customs] tariffs, this (the agreement) can increase the volume of trade between Iran and the EAEU countries, as well as between Iran and Russia," the ambassador added.
According to the diplomat, the agreement is currently at the stage of ratification in the parliaments of the EAEU countries and Iran.
Jalali also noted that simultaneously work is underway to ensure that the free economic zones of Iran can interact with the free economic zones of Russia.
Thanks to Russia for aid after Khoy earthquake
Iran is grateful to Russia for the humanitarian aid it provided following last month’s earthquake that hit the country, the ambassador said.
"The first country that responded to help was the Russian Federation. Russia sent humanitarian aid to the people affected by the earthquake in the city of Khoy. We are grateful for this," he said, pointing to active humanitarian cooperation between the countries.
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