Cabinet approves general outline of next year’s budget bill

TEHRAN – Iran’s cabinet on Sunday approved the general framework of the government’s budget bill for the Iranian year 1405 starting late March 2026, during a meeting chaired by President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Iran, Pakistan push for joint trade committee, $10b trade target

TEHRAN – Iranian and Pakistani business representatives agreed to pursue the creation of a joint trade committee and work towards boosting bilateral trade to $10 billion, during a meeting in Karachi aimed at strengthening private-sector cooperation and facilitating cross-border commerce.

Oil Ministry targets completion of over 1,000 km of gas pipelines by late Mar. 2026

TEHRAN – Iranian Oil Ministry aims to complete and bring into operation more than 1,000 kilometers of gas transmission pipelines by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (late March 2026), Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad said, underscoring efforts to strengthen energy security during periods of peak demand.

Iran, Kazakhstan private sectors sign 9 co-op agreements during Astana visit

TEHRAN – Private-sector representatives from Iran and Kazakhstan signed nine cooperation agreements during a visit by a trade delegation from the Iran Chamber of Commerce to Astana, aimed at expanding bilateral business ties.

South Pars gas output rises 6m cubic meters

TEHRAN – Iran has raised daily gas extraction from the South Pars gas field, it shares with Qatar in the Persian Gulf, to 722 million cubic meters, up six million cubic meters from last winter, after a year of targeted drilling and overhaul work, Pars Oil and Gas Company (POGC), which is in charge of developing the field, announced.

Transit of goods through Iran’s land borders nears 11m tons in 8 months

TEHRAN – Iran’s road transit of goods reached 10.97 million tons in the first eight months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-November 21), driven by stronger activity in international freight corridors, the country’s road transport authority said.

By Ebrahim Fallahi

Tehran, Astana plan to boost trade, deepen transport, private-sector ties

TEHRAN – An Iran-Kazakhstan business conference convened in the Kazakh capital Astana on Thursday, with the presidents of both countries, senior ministers, private sector officials, and business delegations from the two countries in attendance, seeking to deepen commercial ties.

Land–Sea Alliance seen as gateway to expanding China–Iran economic ties

TEHRAN – Iran and China are looking to deepen economic and trade cooperation through the International Land–Sea Trade Corridor, with senior officials highlighting the platform’s role in connecting member states and improving living standards across the region.

ICCIMA head outlines 6 steps to boost trade with Kazakhstan

TEHRAN – The head of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) said on Wednesday that a set of practical measures, including formalized barter, a joint financial mechanism and long-term involvement in Kazakhstan’s infrastructure projects, could significantly expand bilateral trade.

Iran, Belarus to expand cooperation across farming, forestry, veterinary services

TEHRAN – Iran’s agriculture minister and Belarus’ industry minister agreed to expand cooperation across farming, forestry, veterinary services, and plant and animal quarantine, with commitments to jointly produce agricultural machinery and potash fertilizer, the Agriculture Ministry said.

Iran, Belarus hold 18th Joint Economic committee meeting in Tehran

TEHRAN – The eighteenth session of the Iran-Belarus Joint Economic Committee meeting convened in Tehran, bringing together senior ministers, business representatives and experts from both countries to outline a new phase of commercial, industrial and scientific collaboration.

Tehran to host 4th Eurasia trade exhibition in February 2026

TEHRAN – Iran will host the fourth Eurasia International Trade Exhibition from February 1 to 4, 2026, an event that officials say is designed to maximize the benefits of the free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and draw strong participation from member states’ delegations and private-sector representatives.

Semi-finished steel production up 4.7% in 7 months on year

TEHRAN- The production of semi-finished steel in Iran rose 4.7 percent in the first seven months of the current Iranian calendar year (September 23-October 22), as compared to the same period of time in the past year, the Iranian Steel Producers Association (ISPA) announced.

Energy efficiency conference opens in Tehran with focus on reducing consumption

TEHRAN – The fourth International Conference and Exhibition on Iran Energy Optimization and Efficiency (IREEC) opened on Monday at Milad Towe Conference Hall, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders and knowledge-based firms to address what has become one of the country’s most persistent economic challenges: high energy consumption and low efficiency.

Iran’s top 100 SMEs celebrated at 1st national ranking event

TEHRAN – Iran held its first national event to rank small and medium-sized enterprises (SME 100), a joint initiative by the Industrial Management Organization (IMO) and the Small Industries and Industrial Parks Organization (ISIPO), aimed at identifying the country’s top-performing SMEs through a structured evaluation process.

Increasing trade, economic exchanges with Iran seriously pursued: Belarusian ambassador

TEHRAN- In a meeting with Head of Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization Mohammad Ali Dehghan Dehnavi, Belarusian Ambassador to Iran Dmitry Koltsov stated: "We are seriously pursuing increased trade and economic exchanges between Iran and Belarus”.

Iranian, Turkish private sectors emphasize strengthening bilateral ties

TEHRAN- During the side programs of the Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture (TCCIMA)’s delegation at the Plast Eurasia Istanbul exhibition, a meeting was held between this delegation and a group of board members and managers of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce.

5,000 National Housing Movement units to be ready for delivery by March 2026

TEHRAN- The managing director of New Towns Development Company announced the company's readiness to deliver 5,000 units of the National Housing Movement Plan by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20, 2026), stating: “Approximately 52,000 National Housing Movement units in these towns have achieved over 50 percent physical progress.”

President inaugurates project to transfer seawater to central plateau

TEHRAN- The project to transfer seawater to the central plateau (spanning from Sirjan to Isfahan), which was implemented with the major support of the Mobarakeh Steel Company, was officially inaugurated by order of President Masoud Pezeshkian, on Saturday, December 6, 2025.

Fisheries export reach $400m in H1

TEHRAN- Hamzeh Rostampour, head of Iran Fisheries Organization (IFO) announced a 20 to 30 percent growth in fisheries production compared to the current (Iranian calendar) year's forecasts and $400 million in exports of various fisheries and aquaculture products in the first half of the year (March 21-September 21).

Iran, Iraq officials call for deeper provincial cooperation

TEHRAN – Iran’s ambassador to Baghdad and the governor of the Iraqi capital stressed the need to expand cooperation between the provinces of both countries, highlighting continued communication and the exchange of expertise as key to addressing shared challenges.

Sponge iron production increase 5% in 7 months on year

TEHRAN- The production of sponge iron in Iran rose five percent in the first seven months of the current Iranian calendar year (September 23-October 22), as compared to the same period of time in the past year, the Iranian Steel Producers Association (ISPA) announced.

Chinese private sector shows growing interest in entering Iran’s market

TEHRAN – Iran’s Industrial Development and Renovation Organization (IDRO) has said is prepared to expand joint investments with Chinese companies in renewable energy, electric vehicles and rail industries, noting that Chinese private sector has shown growing interest in entering Iranian market, the head of the organization said during a meeting with Iran’s ambassador to China.