President Masoud Pezeshkian departed Tehran on Wednesday for Astana, Kazakhstan, at the invitation of his Kazakh counterpart Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, marking the start of a high-level visit aimed at enhancing economic, cultural, and regional cooperation.
The Iranian president was officially seen off by First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Aref, Deputy for International Communications of the Supreme Leader’s Office Mohsen Qomi, and several government officials.
Upon arrival, President Pezeshkian will be welcomed by his Kazakh counterpart for formal meetings, followed by a high-level joint commission session to review cooperation agreements and explore avenues for strengthening bilateral relations.
The visit will also include a ceremony for the signing of cooperation documents, a press briefing, a speech at Kazakhstan’s Medical University, and participation in a joint session with Iranian and Kazakh business players.
Speaking to a group of officials in Tehran prior to departure, President Pezeshkian emphasized the importance of fostering constructive interaction among Muslim countries, stating that nations in the region should deepen ties and exchange experiences across economic, cultural, and social sectors.
He highlighted that expert groups had already conducted preparatory discussions, producing agreements on industry, mining, transportation, trade, tourism, and cultural exchanges. A delegation of Iranian business officials will accompany the president, aiming to increase trade from the current $400 million level and explore cooperation within multilateral organizations such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), BRICS, Eurasian Economic Union, and Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).
Following the Kazakhstan trip, the Iranian president will travel to Turkmenistan to attend a global summit on peace and trust, where he will deliver an address and hold meetings with heads of participating countries. President Pezeshkian is expected to advocate for sustainable peace and address the contradictions of actors who claim to support global security while enabling human rights violations in conflict zones such as Gaza.