On 6 February, Russian-Iranian simplified visa agreement came into force. The agreement is supposed to provide some categories of travellers with simplified visa requirements.  It was signed on November 23, 2015, in Tehran.

The agreement provides for “facilitated procedure of obtaining Russian and Iranian visas for businesspersons, scientists, participants in cultural and artistic activities, students and teachers, and other categories of tourists,” according to TASS with a reference to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

According to the Advisor of the Supreme leader of Iran for International Affairs Ali Akbar Velayati during his working visit to Moscow from 1 to 4 February, “Tehran is also considering the abolition of tourist visas with Russia.”

“This issue is under discussion now,” Velayati said who previously called for the abolition of business visas.