The United States, in order to increase economic pressure on the Islamic Republic of Iran, is seeking to limit Iran's trade and transit relations with Central Asian countries. In this regard, the U.S. government has asked the countries of this region to reduce or halt their trade with Iran and identify companies linked to Tehran.
Secondary Sanctions and Geographical Costs
The United States has also threatened that countries and institutions that do not comply with these requests will face secondary sanctions and restrictions on access to the dollar-based financial system. This policy appears to be part of the "maximum pressure" strategy against Iran, but it faces serious challenges.
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Due to its unique geographical position, Iran is important as a transit route and access to international waters for Central Asian countries. Therefore, removing Iran from regional transportation and trade networks imposes high costs on its neighbors.
Iran's Role in Goods Transit
The volume of direct trade between Central Asian countries and Iran is not particularly large compared to their trade with China and Russia. However, Iran's significance as an undeniable transit route is clear. For example, in 2025, goods worth approximately $3.9 billion were transferred through Iran's infrastructure to Uzbekistan, highlighting Iran's importance as a corridor for access to global markets.
Turkmenistan is also dependent on Iran due to the need to diversify its energy export routes. Recent agreements between Tehran and Ashgabat for the transfer of Turkmen gas to Iraq via Iran demonstrate the strategic importance of this cooperation.
Tajikistan, as another Central Asian country, is also seeking to secure its energy resources from Iran. Recent negotiations between the energy ministers of Tajikistan and Iran regarding the purchase of petroleum products at preferential prices indicate this dependency.
Therefore, U.S. pressure to sever trade relations with Iran not only means limiting exports and imports but could also lead to a reduction in the geopolitical options for Central Asian countries to escape their geographical deadlock. This situation is particularly complicated given the foreign policy tradition of Central Asian countries, which generally avoid confrontation with major powers.
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