Astana, 15 January 2026 — The Director General of the Islamic Organisation for Food Security (IOFS), H.E. Ambassador Berik Aryn, received H.E. Mr. Kazem Gharibabadi, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran for Legal and International Affairs, at the IOFS Headquarters in Astana.
The meeting provided an opportunity to review the current state of cooperation between IOFS and the Islamic Republic of Iran and to exchange views on prospects for further strengthening engagement in the field of food security within the framework of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The Director General welcomed the Deputy Foreign Minister’s visit and highlighted Iran’s active engagement with IOFS initiatives, as well as its growing contribution to collective efforts aimed at promoting sustainable agriculture and resilient food systems across Member States.
During the discussions, the Deputy Minister highlighted Iran’s achievements in attaining a high level of self sufficiency in food production, underlining the country’s significant capacity and experience in the field of food security. He noted that Iran’s practices and policy approaches could be shared with other OIC Member States through IOFS platforms, while also emphasizing that Iran could benefit from the diverse experiences and best practices of other OIC countries in strengthening its own food systems.
The discussions underscored the importance of deepening institutional collaboration, enhancing technical cooperation, and fostering knowledge exchange to address shared challenges related to food security, climate change, and sustainable agricultural development. Both sides emphasized the value of practical cooperation, capacity-building, and regional partnerships in advancing the IOFS mandate.
Both parties also stressed the importance of the ratification of the IOFS Statute by the Islamic Republic of Iran, noting that full membership unlocks the full potential of mutually and enable Iran to participate fully in the governance and activities of the Organization, including the possibility of hosting the IOFS General Assembly, nominating candidates to the IOFS Executive Board, and having Iranian nationals serve as staff members of the Organization.
The Director General also recalled the positive momentum generated by recent high-level exchanges and technical engagements between IOFS and relevant Iranian institutions, noting that these interactions reflect a shared commitment to translating dialogue into concrete outcomes. In this context, the parties reaffirmed their interest in continuing close coordination and maintaining regular consultations.
