The Trade Routes Iran Cannot Afford to Lose
AI Summary
The article analyzes Iran's strategic economic and transit relations with Central Asian republics under the control of the IRGC, highlighting a pragmatic approach amidst anticipated disruptions from the 2026 conflict. Iran's connectivity initiatives aim to sustain multipolar regional cooperation despite geopolitical tensions.
The future of relations between Central Asian republics (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan) and Iran under a government now dominated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is likely to feature pragmatic economic and transit cooperation amid heightened caution, with short-term disruptions from the 2026 conflict and longer-term continuity driven by mutual interests in connectivity and multipolarity. Iran's Shift to IRGC Leadership (as of mid-2026) Following the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and…