Austria’s ambassador to Tehran has announced that the country’s embassy will resume accepting visa applications from Iranian citizens starting January 4, a move seen as a practical step toward restoring bilateral exchanges and easing restrictions on travel for both business and non-business purposes.
The announcement was made during a meeting between Friedrich Stift, Austria’s ambassador to Iran, and Samad Hassanzadeh, head of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture. Hassanzadeh noted that economic ties between Iran and Austria have been significantly reduced due to sanctions, expressing hope that the appointment of a new Austrian ambassador would help pave the way for broader cooperation. He highlighted Iran’s capabilities in sectors such as mining, agriculture, food production, medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, steel, and petrochemicals, alongside Austria’s strengths in advanced technologies, as areas with strong potential for joint projects.
Hassanzadeh also stressed Iran’s interest in expanding cooperation in renewable energy, green projects, water resource management, knowledge-based services, artificial intelligence, and greenhouse agriculture. He called for easier access to business visas for Iranian traders and emphasized the importance of exchanging trade and academic delegations, extending a formal invitation to Austrian delegations to visit Iran.
For his part, Ambassador Stift expressed hope that Iran would soon emerge from the sanctions environment, describing current restrictions as a major obstacle for Austrian companies—particularly in financial transactions. He said bilateral trade stood at approximately €130 million last year, a figure he described as modest compared to Iran’s regional economic potential.
The Austrian ambassador also pointed to the presence of around 60,000 Iranians and people of Iranian origin living in Austria, describing them as a strong foundation for expanding scientific and commercial exchanges. Referring to the temporary closure of the Austrian embassy in Tehran during the 12-day conflict, Stift confirmed that consular services would resume and expressed hope that military tensions would not be repeated, allowing diplomatic and economic engagement to continue uninterrupted.