Kazakhstan to Maintain Active Commercial Ties With Middle East Countries

Kazakhstan will continue trading with Iran, other countries in the Gulf, as well as Afghanistan and Pakistan, despite recent flare-ups and ongoing military operations taking place across the Middle East, Serik Zhumangarin, deputy Prime Minister and minister of economy, said on March 4.

Following the US and Israel’s coordinated bombardments of Iran at the end of February and Teheran’s retaliatory strikes against US military bases across the Gulf, analysts had been questioning the short-term viability of existing trade links.

Responding to a question from Vlast during a press briefing in Parliament, Zhumangarin said Iran had been and was expected to remain a major buyer of Kazakhstan’s food products.

“Last year we traded with Iran $430 million worth of goods. This was an increase [compared to last year],” the minister said.

In 2025, Kazakhstan sent a record 1.2 million tons of grain to Iran.

“It's food. So, I think that now, obviously, there will be some issues related to logistics, insurance costs, freight, and payments. But overall, life goes on, and people need to eat,” Zhumangarin said.

Zhumangarin also added that Kazakhstan will not sever links with Iran, as well as Afghanistan and Pakistan–which are currently at war.

“I think we won't lose the connections and chains we've built up. This applies to all countries, also Afghanistan and Pakistan,” the minister said.

Zhumangarin reported positive trade numbers with Afghanistan and Pakistan for 2025.

“Last year, trade with Afghanistan was also quite good: $540 million. With Pakistan, we increased slightly: $105 million. We still keep the goal of maintaining and increasing trade will remain the same,” Zhumangarin said.

With reporting by Tamara Vaal and Dmitriy Mazorenko.

Sign up for our English-language newsletter.