Iran’s Foreign Ministry says exports to Central Asia have jumped over the past two months.

Uzbekistan has firmly ruled out the possibility of US forces being stationed in the Central Asian country to purportedly combat terrorism in Afghanistan.

Iran and Turkmenistan will reopen a main land border crossing on Thursday after 20 months of closure.

Russia slams reported plans by the United States to deploy troops to the Central Asia region following the hasty withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan and the Taliban’s takeover of the country.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu says the United States is seeking to take root in Central Asia following its withdrawal from Afghanistan, where it has faced a complete failure.

Russia has warned the US against deploying its troops in the former Soviet Central Asian nations following their withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif meets with top Turkmen officials as he wraps up his four-legged tour to Central Asia.

In a visit to Kyrgyzstan, Foreign Minister Zarif calls instability in Afghanistan and the spread of terrorism in the region as common threats facing Iranian and Kyrgyz states.

Foreign Minister Zarif says Iran can provide Uzbekistan with a transit route to international markets and waters.

Zarif will travel to Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan on April 5-8.