Russia Says Regional Free-Trade Pact With Iran Possible by Year-End

A free-trade-zone agreement between Iran, Russia, and several countries that cover the vast Eurasian region spanning the borders of Eastern Europe to Western China is possible by the end of the year, Russia’s TASS news agency reported on June 19. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksei Overchuk told TASS in an interview that talks between the Eurasian Economic Union — which comprises Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia — and Iran are in their final stages. “We are moving forward,” Overchuk said. “We very much hope that such an agreement can be signed by the end of the year.”