Tajikistan has commenced importing oil and petroleum products from Iran, with deliveries starting in late August, according to the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources. The ministry disclosed this information on September 24, but did not provide details on the volume, pricing, suppliers, or the route for the shipments.
The agreement for these imports resulted from discussions held in Tehran on August 15, where Tajikistan’s Energy Minister Daler Juma and Transport Minister Azim Ibrohim met with Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad. During these talks, they established a working group to formulate a long-term supply agreement. Tajikistan has requested up to 2.55 million tons of fuel annually, which includes crude, diesel, gasoline, and jet fuel, alongside discounted pricing and a streamlined transit procedure through Iran’s rail network.
This shift towards Iranian fuel arises amid a significant fuel crisis in Russia, which had previously supplied 91.1 percent of the 599,500 tons of petroleum products imported by Tajikistan in the first half of 2026. Due to the impact of Ukraine’s conflict on Russian fuel supplies, including drone strikes targeting refineries, Dushanbe’s access to Russian fuel has diminished. Diesel shortages in Tajikistan began in June, with limits on fuel purchases at gas stations by July.
Russia has extended its diesel export ban repeatedly, currently effective until October 31. While intergovernmental agreements are exempt from this ban, Tajikistan has still experienced fuel shortages. By July, diesel prices in the country surged to between $1.40 and $1.66 per liter. The local refining industry in Tajikistan meets only about 0.5 percent of gasoline demand.
Importantly, Tajikistan and Iran do not share a border, which complicates the logistics of moving large quantities of petroleum products. Transporting the requested volume of 2.55 million tons by rail would necessitate around 51,000 tank cars annually, amounting to roughly 140 per day. Iranian oil exports are further complicated by domestic shortages; Iran’s Union of Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters indicated that discussions around diesel and gasoline shipments are limited due to these shortages.
The relationship between Tajikistan and Iran has improved since a significant diplomatic rift in 2015. The opening of an Iranian drone factory in Tajikistan in 2022 and a high-level visit that resulted in 23 signed agreements in early 2025 marked a thaw in relations. In 2025, bilateral trade values were reported at $438 million, reflecting a 28 percent increase from the previous year.
Despite the potential for Iranian imports, concerns arise regarding U.S. sanctions. In August, the U.S. Treasury implemented Operation Economic Outcast, which expands sanctions related to Iran, warning countries of potential consequences for engaging with Iranian petroleum activities. Edward Lemon from the Oxus Society noted that while Tajikistan’s trade with Iran may be relatively small, exposure to sanctions could increase depending on how payments for Iranian shipments are processed.
Currently, Russia still provides the vast majority of Tajikistan’s fuel supply, leaving the effectiveness of Iranian imports uncertain heading into the winter months. The new arrangement does, however, position Tajikistan to diversify its sources amid renewed tensions with Moscow.
