Russia and Iran plan to complete the integration of their national payment systems—Russia’s Mir and Iran’s Shetab—by December 2025, according to Asghar Abolhasani, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Iran.
“At the third and final stage of the integration, Iranian citizens will be able to make purchases in Russian retail outlets using a mobile app,” Abolhasani said, as quoted by the Iranian Central Bank’s press service. “This phase will be launched in a pilot mode in September 2025 and will be fully implemented by December 2025.”
The second stage of integration was completed on May 13, 2025, allowing Russian citizens to use their Mir cards for payments in Iran.
“This project is the result of joint efforts by both countries. I sincerely thank everyone involved, especially our colleagues in Russia, who supported us with their dedication and expertise,” Abolhasani added. He expressed gratitude to Central Bank of Iran Governor Mohammad Reza Farzin and Central Bank of Russia Chair Elvira Nabiullina for their support, noting that the project could become a model for cooperation for other countries.
Russia and Iran first announced the integration of their national payment systems in July 2024, which is being carried out in three stages:
Stage 1 (since November 11, 2024): Holders of Iranian Shetab cards can withdraw rubles from ATMs in Russia.
Stage 2 (since May 13, 2025): Russians can use Mir cards in Iran, including contactless NFC payments via smartphones with the Mir Pay app.
Stage 3 (planned for completion by December 2025): Iranians will be able to use their cards for payments in Russia.
According to Iran’s Central Bank, the linkage of Mir and Shetab represents one of the most significant accomplishments in Russian-Iranian financial cooperation.
Currently, the Mir card is accepted in 13 countries. In nine of them—including Armenia, Venezuela, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Laos, Moldova, Myanmar, Tajikistan, and Nicaragua—usage is limited by local banks or vendors. Full support exists in Abkhazia, Belarus, Cuba, and South Ossetia.
Six additional countries—Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, and Sri Lanka—are in the process of integrating the Mir system. Egypt and Mauritius have announced plans to implement it. Dialogues are ongoing with six more countries. Previously, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan suspended the use of Mir.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Federation Council
Based on TASS materials