Iran considers cancelling visa regime for Russian businessmen

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Diplomacy Mehdi Safari has said the country is considering the possibility of introducing a visa-free regime for Russian businessmen to boost investments.

"Three issues - energy, trade and transit - are the most important topics for Russia and Iran, which require cooperation at the level of responsible departments and institutions," Tehran-based Fars News Agency quoted him as saying on June 12, TASS informs.  

He also announced the possible abolition of visas for Russian businessmen to increase investments, as well as plans to create an interbank mechanism for settlements in Russian roubles with countries close to Russia and establish a green customs corridor (with the Russian side).

Safari also expressed his satisfaction with the growth of Iran's exports to Russia and China in recent months.

"Russia has presented a list of import needs, according to which Iran can export many goods, which can lead to a significant increase in Iranian supplies," the diplomat said. "This could be a suitable way for Iran to repay its debt to Russia."

On June 26, 2021, Ali Akbar Salehi, who at that time served as the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, said that the debt of the Iranian side to Russia for the work on the creation of the Bushehr nuclear power plant is about 500 million euros. On May 26, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Alexander Novak said that Iran at the end of 2021 and the beginning of 2022 paid part of the relevant debt to Russia.