The Impact of Implementation of the Border Crossing Proposal on Iran-Turkmenistan Relations

Shortly before the collapse of the bipolar system, the cooperation of former Soviet officials with Iran led to a major upheaval in the border regions of the two countries. As a result of this cooperation, on 26/11/1368, on 15 February 1990, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Iran and the Soviet Union that coincided with the timing of its implementation with the establishment of independent republics across Iran's northern borders. According to the terms of this Memorandum of Understanding, facilities were provided for the transit of border residents, including that they could travel four times up to a 45-kilometer radius each year, subject to a border crossing permit. This study examines the subjective course of the border crossing permit scheme and points to some of its features, especially in relation to the Republic of Turkmenistan - one of the countries that gained its independence with the collapse of the Soviet Union. The result of the research showed that as the Memorandum of Understanding on the border crossing plan between Iran and the Soviet Union was concluded, but in practice, it was the Republic of Turkmenistan that favored Iran, so there was a great deal of change in this regard. On the other hand, the implementation of the plan had a great impact on the relations between Iran and Turkmenistan. The first consequence was the facilitation of the movement of border residents and the provision of contacts between the borderline nationals of the two countries.