The official representative of Iran’s Ministry of Industry, Mining and Trade, Omid Ghalibaf, indicated that Saipa is preparing to supply two of its car models to Russia, Shahin and Quick, while Iran Khodro has also expressed interest in expanding into the Russian market. Both manufacturers are currently undergoing the necessary certification processes to ensure compliance with local standards before any cross-border sales can proceed.
In a further development, Saipa has entered into a contract with a Belarusian partner to export forty-five thousand units of Shahin and Quick. The agreement envisions supplying the same two models to the Russian market, underscoring a broader strategy to diversify export routes and reach new customers despite ongoing geopolitical and logistical complexities. This framing was provided in statements attributed to Ghalibaf, who emphasized that certification remains a prerequisite for deliveries and that negotiations with Moscow are active but have not yet culminated in binding supply terms.
It should be noted that the Ukrainian or Russian logistics environment, coupled with Western sanction regimes, could influence the eventual distribution channel. Officials have suggested that shipments may be routed directly or routed via Belarus, depending on regulatory approvals, transportation arrangements, and the ability to meet Russian market requirements. The possibility exists that some portion of the forty-five thousand vehicles could be directed to Russia, contingent on how certification and export logistics unfold in the coming weeks and months.
Earlier remarks from the Russian ambassador to Tehran, Alexei Dedov, indicated that two Iranian car manufacturers were prepared to supply vehicles to Russia, a development reflecting intensified collaboration prospects between the two countries in the automotive sector. The ministry responsible for industry in Iran, however, clarified that actual deliveries hinge on achieving the necessary certification and formal approvals, a process that has not yet begun in earnest. Ghalibaf reiterated that the vehicles are undergoing certification, while discussions with Moscow continue, though no formal supply contracts have been signed at this stage.
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