Russian Mir card payments launched in Iran

Russians travelers in Iran can now pay at Iranian terminals with Mir cards using contactless payment technology (NFC) and on smartphones via the Mir Pay application. As reported by the press service of the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic, a ceremonial completion of the second stage of the integration of the Russian and Iranian payment systems Mir and Shetab was held in Tehran. 

"Currently, NFC payments are enabled in the Iranian payment network, including payments for small purchases without a PIN code. This function has also been implemented for payments via the Mir Pay application as part of the integration of the Shetab and Mir networks. Russian tourists and entrepreneurs can make purchases at certain retail outlets using Android smartphones. Holders of Russian cards will be able to make small transactions via Mir Pay at Shaparak terminals without a PIN code, while large transactions will require a PIN code,” the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic said in a statement. 

As noted by the press service, "the main tourist centers of Iran, popular among Russians, were equipped with this technology before any others."

Speaking at the ceremonial completion of the second stage of the integration of the Russian and Iranian payment systems, head of the Central Bank of Iran Mohammad Reza Farzin thanked Bank of Russia Governor Elvira Nabiullina and Russian colleagues for their cooperation. 

On July 6, 2024, Farzin announced that Moscow and Tehran had completed the integration of national payment systems. According to him, the connection of the Russian Mir and the Iranian Shetab systems will take place in three stages. At the first stage, Shetab card holders will be able to withdraw rubles from ATMs in the Russian Federation. The second stage will allow Russians to use Mir cards in Iran to pay for purchases. After the completion of the third stage, Iranians will be able to pay with Shetab cards in the Russian Federation.

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