Russia and Iran introduce visa-free travel for tourists

Russia and Iran plan to implement a visa-free tourist travel agreement between the two countries in 2023, Russian Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov said.

"The list of tour operators who plan to put these groups together in Russia has already been agreed," he said, adding that these are groups of up to 50 people entering for up to 15 days.

"More than 60 Russian constituent entities have shown interest in this, and they have compiled a list of 260 companies," the minister said.

"This document has already been passed on to [our] colleagues in Iran. We are now waiting for a similar [list] from you so as to let the tourist exchange process get underway," Reshetnikov said, addressing his Iranian counterparts.