The Minister of Information and Communications Technology Seyed Sattar Hashemi and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of Kazakhstan with Zhaslan Madiyev, emphasized the expansion of bilateral and regional cooperation in the field of communications, the development of fiber-optic infrastructure, and support to technology companies of both countries.
They met on the sidelines of the
fourth day of the International Telecommunication Union’s Plenipotentiary
Conference (PP-26) in Doha on Thursday, discussing ways to strengthen bilateral
and regional cooperation in the field of information and communications
technology (ICT)
Hashemi condemned the military
attacks by the United States and the Zionist regime of Israel against Iran,
referring to the humanitarian consequences of these attacks and the damage
inflicted on infrastructure and civilian facilities.
“Targeting vital infrastructure
and public services disrupts citizens’ daily lives and the provision of
essential services,” he stated.
Emphasizing respecting the
national sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries and observing the
principles of international humanitarian law, he called on the international
community to adopt a responsible position to prevent the recurrence of such
attacks and protect the lives and security of civilians.
Hashemi also stressed preserving
the specialized, technical, and non-political nature of the International
Telecommunication Union and called for the organization to focus on its
statutory mandates and professional agendas in the field of information and
communications technology.
Iran-Kazakhstan mutual support
Referring to the two countries’
cooperation within the framework of multilateral organizations and mechanisms,
Hashemi called on the Kazakh delegation to support the documents and
resolutions proposed by the Islamic Republic of Iran at the PP-26 Conference.
He also referred to Kazakhstan’s
candidacy for membership in the Council of the International Telecommunication
Union and the Radio Regulations Board (RRB), announcing Iran’s support for the
country’s candidacy.
The ICT Minister said that Iran
would cast a positive vote in favor of Kazakhstan in the upcoming elections.
Follow-up on regional fiber-optic
project
Referring to the joint project
for establishing shared fiber-optic infrastructure among Iran, Kazakhstan, and
Turkmenistan, Hashemi emphasized the strategic importance of this project in
developing regional communications and the necessity of pursuing and
accelerating its implementation.
He proposed the establishment of
an executive committee with the participation of the three countries to examine
the technical, economic, and commercial aspects of the project, including
connection routes, ownership and operation models, investment costs, and
available capacity, and to pave the way for reaching an agreement on a joint
implementation and economic model.
Scientific cooperation
and knowledge-based firms
Hashemi identified the expansion
of cooperation between universities and research centers in Iran and Kazakhstan
as another promising area for interaction.
He emphasized the importance of
holding joint training courses in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity,
emerging communications technologies, and smart government, exchanging
professors, researchers, and students, and defining joint research projects.
In this regard, he introduced the
Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences and Communications Technology
(ICT Research Institute) as Iran’s specialized capacity for pursuing
educational and research cooperation.
Referring to the institute’s
activities in emerging communications technologies, artificial intelligence,
and cybersecurity, he stressed the importance of expanding ties between the two
countries’ scientific and technological centers.
The ICT Minister also proposed
creating opportunities for cooperation between Iranian and Kazakh
knowledge-based companies in developing software products and artificial
intelligence services. He described holding a joint forum, organizing business
meetings, and introducing the technology companies of the two countries to one
another as effective steps in this direction.
Kazakhstan welcomes expansion of ICT
ties with Iran
Zhaslan Madiyev, Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of
Kazakhstan, welcomed the proposals put forward, emphasizing the importance of
expanding cooperation between Iran and Kazakhstan in the field of information
and communications technology. He described the capacities of the two countries
for advancing joint projects in digital infrastructure and emerging
technologies as significant.
Referring to the areas of
cooperation between the two countries in various technology sectors, he
stressed the continuation of dialogue and expert-level consultations to examine
the proposals presented. He considered the expansion of interaction between
technology companies, scientific centers, and specialized institutions in the
two countries an effective factor in advancing bilateral cooperation.
The Plenipotentiary Conference of
the International Telecommunication Union is being held in Doha, Qatar, from
November 9 to 27, 2026.
It is the highest decision-making
and policymaking body of the ITU and is held every four years with the
participation of representatives of member countries and is responsible for
determining the Union’s future strategies and priorities.
Iran’s ICT Minister is visiting
Doha at the head of a delegation with the aim of strengthening technological
diplomacy, expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation, and pursuing the
interests of Iran at this international event.
Bilateral meetings with ministers
and senior officials from various countries, as well as exploring opportunities
for cooperation in communications and emerging technologies, are among the main
objectives of this visit.