Since 2014, Iran has pivoted toward Eurasia in an obvious shift in strategy. Signing a Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union was the first serious step in this shift of focus. Western sanctions on Iran impeded its pivot to Eurasia, with Turkey enjoying an advantageous opportunity as a result. For example, a former official at Iran’s Communications ministry explained that Turkey has occupied part of the Iranian ICT market in Central Asia. Turkey began more seriously pursuing Trans-Caspian projects after the first «bridge contest.» In January 2015 a trade official announced Turkey was considering alternative ways to cross the Caspian Sea to avoid delays along the route across Iran. There were plans to carry about 25,000 trucks annually over the Caspian Sea using ferryboats and Ro-Ro ships from the newly constructed Alat port in Azerbaijan to Turkmenistan’s Turkmenbashi port.
This article was written by Omid Rahimi and Ali Heydari
To read the full article, please click on the following link: https://thediplomat.com/2020/02/how-iran-and-turkey-complete-in-central-asian-trade/
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