Iran Ready to Fully Remove Visa Requirements for Russian Travelers: Envoy
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Ambassador to Russia Mehdi Sanaei said Tehran is ready to fully abolish its visa regime with Moscow.
“No consultations have been held yet (between Tehran and Moscow) on complete removal of visa requirements and its implementation,” Sanaei told Rossiya-24 television on Monday.
However, he added that Iran is fully prepared to completely lift visa requirements for Russian citizens.
Russians are interested in gradual removal of visa requirements for Iranian and Russian travelers using package tours, Sanaei further said.
Back in late November, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Tehran and Moscow hope to sign an inter-governmental agreement on cancelling visa requirements for tourists who book package tours through travel agencies.
Iran and Russia have stepped up their efforts to increase tourism cooperation in recent months. Iran has hammered out an investment package worth $25 billion to revitalize its tourism industry.
With a large number of attractive natural and historical sites, Iran is one of the most touristic countries in the world.
Visitor numbers have soared since Tehran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany), reached the deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), on July 14, 2015 and started implementing it on January 16.
