 |
 | |
 Iran |  New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Diplomatic mission | |
| Embassy of Iran, Wellington | Embassy of New Zealand, Tehran |
Iran established diplomatic relations with New Zealand on December 14, 1973. Both countries have recognition from the United Nations. Iran and New Zealand are part of the World Trade Organization.
New Zealand established its embassy in Tehran in 1975, marking it as the first diplomatic mission in the Middle East, which indicated Iran's importance as a trading partner at that time. [1] In response to this, Iran established its embassy in Wellington in the mid-1980s. [1]
In the 1980s, there was a peak in trade between the two nations, where Iran emerged as one of New Zealand’s top export markets, which included its sheep meat trade. This trade was crucial in the establishment of the 1985 Joint Ministerial Commission. [2] [3] However, by the late 20th century, trade dynamics changed due to political developments, such as the Iran-Iraq War and subsequent international sanctions against Iran.[ citation needed ]
Relations have encountered significant challenges, especially after the United States withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2018, which resulted in renewed sanctions on Iran. [4] New Zealand kept its sanctions against Iran intact, while advising its businesses to obtain legal counsel about the effects of U.S. sanctions. [5] Since late 2022, human rights in Iran have become a critical factor influencing bilateral relations. Following the death of Mahsa Amini and the ensuing protests, New Zealand condemned Iran’s government actions and criticized its human rights violations by suspending the bilateral human rights dialogue and imposing travel bans on Iranian officials. [6]
As of 2024, New Zealand has taken a firm stance against Iranian governmental actions, including condemning its military strikes against Israel and supporting international resolutions against Iran’s human rights violations. [6]
In response to the outbreak of the Iran-Israel war in mid-June 2025, the New Zealand Embassy in Tehran was closed on 19 June. New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters confirmed that two New Zealand embassy staff in Tehran and their families had been evacuated via neighbouring Azerbaijan. [7] On 22 June, Peters confirmed there were about 80 New Zealanders registered in New Zealand. He and Defence Minister Judith Collins confirmed that the New Zealand government would send a C-130J Super Hercules into the Middle East to evacuate New Zealanders in Iran and Israel. [8]
In late August 2025, Foreign Minister Peters condemned Iranian state-sponsored attacks against Jewish institutions in Australia and expressed support for the Albanese government's decision to expel the Iranian Ambassador. While Peters said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade would convey New Zealand's concerns to Iranian Ambassador Reza Nazar Ahari, he confirmed that New Zealand would not follow Australia's lead in expelling the Iranian ambassador. [9]
In 2016, both countries signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance educational cooperation, allowing Iranian government sponsorship for students to study in New Zealand. [10] [11] This agreement laid the groundwork for fostering cultural and academic exchanges between the two nations.
In July 2022, two social media influencers and New Zealand citizens, Christopher Richwhite and Bridget Thackwray, were detained by authorities upon entering Iran. They were released in October 2022. [14] [15] Iranian-born Greens MP and Greens party human rights spokesperson, Golriz Ghahraman, said that while she was “hugely relieved that they have now left Iran”, she also stated “New Zealand’s stance and our unwillingness to … introduce the kind of actions or statements that other like-minded nations have done has been highly unusual...It’s reasonable to assume this [the couple’s detainment] had some influence”. In response, Prime minister Jacinda Ardern said that the detainment did not result in a softer stance: “It did not. Of course, we have shared our condemnation. At the same time, we have had also a duty of care to try and ensure that those New Zealanders were able to exit Iran." [15] Ardern further said that the New Zealand government had been “working hard” for several months to secure their freedom. She said that the couple had been in “difficult circumstances” but declined to say where in Iran they had been held. [14]
It was reported that the media decided not to deliberately report on the couple's detention until they were released. [16] Richwite is the son of New Zealand businessman David Richwhite. [14]
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