Mir payment system
Russia's national card payment scheme; post-2022 sanctions alternative to Visa and Mastercard; integrating with Iran's Shetab.
On 19 June, Iran said the final stage linking its Shetab network to the Mir payment system should finish around August, enabling two-way card use.
Last refreshed: 20 August 2026
Could the Mir-Shetab corridor become a template for a wider sanctions-resistant payment network?
Timeline for Mir payment system
Mentioned in: Bern rewrites the forms on Iran money
Iran Conflict 2026Iran wired its banks into Russia's
Iran Conflict 2026Background
The Mir payment system is Russia's national card scheme. The National Payment Card System operates it as domestic settlement infrastructure outside Visa and Mastercard networks. Russia created Mir in 2015 after sanctions exposed its dependence on foreign card providers.
Mir became more important after Visa and Mastercard suspended Russian operations in 2022. It supports card payments inside Russia and provides a platform for selected cross-border links. Integration with Iran's Shetab network extends that role between two heavily sanctioned economies. The link is intended to permit bilateral card payments without relying on dollar or euro clearing chains.
Its significance lies in sovereign payment continuity. Foreign adoption remains exposed to sanctions pressure, which limits Mir's reach beyond partners willing to accept that risk.
What is Russia's Mir payment system and how does it work?
Why is Russia integrating Mir with Iran's Shetab payment system?
