EURASIAN ECONOMIC UNION IN THE VIEWS OF THE IRANIAN EXPERT COMMUNITIES
The article considers the development of Iran’s relations with the Eurasian Economic Union, as well as the views of Russian and Iranian experts on further prospects for cooperation. It is shown that the economic potential of Iran, despite existing economic difficulties, is comparable to the potential of the most developed countries of the organization. Iranian authorities are in favor of stepping up relations with the Eurasian Economic Union, which the organization itself is committed to. Russian and Iranian experts generally support further intensive development of Iran’s trade and economic relations with that organization, but they note on a number of issues in the way. According to Iranian experts, the Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union will allow Iran to overcome the severe American sanctions and revive its economy through a sharp increase in exports. But some experts oppose an active rapprochement between Iran and the Union, seeing that as a danger to weak domestic production or to relations with Western Europe, which occupies a much larger place in Iran’s foreign trade than the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union.