Tajikistan turns to Iran for oil as Russia's fuel crisis deepens
Dushanbe has requested a total of 2.55 million tonnes of oil and fuel from Iran. It is an emergency hedge against Russia's fuel shortage — but it risks US secondary sanctions.
Tajikistan has turned to Iran and requested oil and fuel amid Russia's fuel crisis. The emergency move exposes Dushanbe to the risk of US secondary sanctions.
What was requested
According to Times of Central Asia and Asia-Plus, Tajikistan asked Iran for a total of 2.55 million tonnes of oil and fuel: 2 million tonnes of crude oil, 300,000 tonnes of diesel, 150,000 tonnes of gasoline and 100,000 tonnes of jet fuel. The Ministry of Energy and Water Resources confirmed that deliveries began in late August but did not disclose volumes, prices or routes. No final contract has been signed: on 15 August ministers met in Tehran and set up a working group to prepare a long-term supply deal.
Russia's crisis
The cause is Russia's fuel shortage. After prolonged Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries, Russia banned exports of gasoline, diesel and aviation kerosene (the aviation-fuel ban runs 1 June–30 November 2026). Central Asia is heavily dependent on this fuel: according to RFE/RL, 91.1% of the 599,500 tonnes of petroleum products Tajikistan imported in the first half of 2026 came from Russia.
Sanctions risk
Buying Iranian oil could expose Tajikistan to US secondary sanctions (Executive Order 13846). Central Asia analyst Edward Lemon, president of the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs, told RFE/RL on 2 October: 'The report that Iran has started to sell oil to Tajikistan comes as the relation between Dushanbe and Tehran is warming and they're becoming closer.' Tajikistan and Iran share no border, so deliveries must run by rail through third countries.
