The Trade Routes Iran Cannot Afford to Lose

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…