The decision, confirmed after a Cabinet meeting, reflects the government’s commitment to opening Iran’s doors to the world, as stated by Minister of Tourism Ezzatollah Zarghami….reports Asian Lite News
Iran has announced a significant shift by eliminating visa requirements for citizens from 33 countries, encompassing Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Bahrain.
The decision, confirmed after a Cabinet meeting, reflects the government’s commitment to opening Iran’s doors to the world, as stated by Minister of Tourism Ezzatollah Zarghami.
With this move, citizens from a total of 45 countries can now visit Iran without the need for a visa. The Ministry of Tourism sees this as a demonstration of Iran’s determination to engage with nations globally, fostering increased international connectivity.
Notably, the decision extends to the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain, despite diplomatic challenges with the latter.
Oman was already exempt, and the list, published by the ISNA news agency, includes diverse nations like Lebanon, Tunisia, India, and Croatia, the sole European country on the roster.
This strategic decision aligns with Iran’s efforts to enhance global relations, promote tourism, and showcase the country’s welcoming stance to the world.
The 33 countries approved for Iran’s new visa-waiver program are as follows:
India, Russia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Mauritania, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Seychelles, Indonesia, Darussalam, Japan, Singapore, Cambodia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brazil, Peru, Cuba, Mexico, Venezuela, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia and Belarus.
Earlier, Iran had visa waiver programs for visitors from Turkiye, Republic of Azerbaijan, Oman, China, Armenia, Lebanon and Syria.
According to the latest statistics, the number of foreign arrivals in Iran reached 4.4 million during the first eight months of the current Iranian year (started on March 21), an increase of 48.5% compared to the same period last year.
ALSO READ: Iran Expresses Priority for Syria’s Peace