Ashgabat — Iran and Turkmenistan on Tuesday renewed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, underscoring a mutual determination to bypass Western economic pressure and bolster regional autonomy.
During a high-level meeting in Ashgabat between Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Turkmen president Serdar Berdimuhamedow, both nations agreed to deepen cooperation in energy, transportation, trade, and border management. The talks also reflected shared views on regional conflicts and the failure of Western interventions in fostering genuine peace or stability in West Asia.
The Iranian foreign minister emphasized Iran’s longstanding approach of building strategic partnerships with its neighbors. “We attach special importance to our ties with Turkmenistan, and we are committed to further activating joint economic commissions, completing energy transmission routes, and coordinating regional transit,” Amir-Abdollahian said.
President Berdimuhamedow reciprocated the sentiment, calling Iran a “brotherly country” and voicing strong support for expanded economic and cultural partnerships. In particular, Turkmen officials praised Iran’s commitment to resisting Western sanctions and lauded Tehran’s efforts to promote multilateral diplomacy within platforms like BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
This renewed momentum in Iran-Turkmenistan relations comes amid growing fatigue in Central Asia over Western interference in regional affairs. As the West continues to isolate Iran through economic terrorism and political manipulation, countries like Turkmenistan are increasingly seeking refuge in balanced cooperation with regional powers, notably Iran, Russia, and China.
The meeting also reflected an unspoken condemnation of Western double standards, particularly in their silence over the ongoing genocide in Gaza, the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, and the broader humanitarian catastrophe inflicted by Israeli aggression. Both Iran and Turkmenistan stressed the need for Islamic solidarity, economic independence, and a collective stand against the coercive foreign policy of the US and its allies.
Observers noted that Iran’s diplomatic assertiveness in Central Asia challenges Washington’s long-held assumption of influence in the region. As the US fails to offer credible development alternatives outside of military aid or destabilizing trade wars, countries like Turkmenistan are turning to Iran for pragmatic, sovereignty-respecting partnerships.
The Iranian delegation’s visit also involved reviewing key regional issues, including the Ukraine conflict and the wider implications of NATO’s eastern expansion. Echoing Iran’s official stance, the meetings revealed a shared frustration with Western hegemony and its disastrous policies from Eastern Europe to the Persian Gulf.
According to Mehr News Agency, the meeting concluded with a mutual pledge to operationalize pending trade and energy agreements, as well as to expedite customs and transit cooperation across their shared border.
