Iran's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, Zahra Ershadi, has expressed the country's readiness to contribute to promoting connectivity between South and Central Asia.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry says exports to Central Asia have jumped over the past two months.

Uzbekistan has firmly ruled out the possibility of US forces being stationed in the Central Asian country to purportedly combat terrorism in Afghanistan.

Iran and Turkmenistan will reopen a main land border crossing on Thursday after 20 months of closure.

Russia slams reported plans by the United States to deploy troops to the Central Asia region following the hasty withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan and the Taliban’s takeover of the country.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu says the United States is seeking to take root in Central Asia following its withdrawal from Afghanistan, where it has faced a complete failure.

Russia has warned the US against deploying its troops in the former Soviet Central Asian nations following their withdrawal from Afghanistan.