Taliban and Iranian Officials Discuss Trade and Transit Cooperation
As part of a working visit to Turkey by the Taliban’s Acting Minister of Industry and Commerce, Nooruddin Azizi held a meeting with Seyed Mohammad Atabak, Iran’s Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade, focusing on economic relations and the development of transit routes.
According to a statement released by Afghanistan’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the discussions emphasized following up on previous commitments and assessing the outcomes of a recent Afghan delegation’s visit to the Milak border port and their meetings with local officials in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan Province. The parties also exchanged views on the Afghan delegation’s recent trip to India and its implications for foreign trade.
One key topic was the strategic potential of Iran’s Chabahar Port as a vital economic route for Afghanistan’s imports and exports. Both sides stressed the need for expedited technical and operational coordination to utilize the port more effectively.
Further discussions included increasing Afghanistan’s cotton exports to Iran, facilitating business activities, and creating sustainable trade frameworks between the two countries. The issue of competitive railway freight rates along Afghanistan’s transit routes was also addressed.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in trade, transit routes, and goods exchange, and to continue holding regular technical and operational meetings. While such engagements could improve the economic situation, political instability and the lack of legitimacy surrounding the Taliban administration remain significant challenges to regional economic relations.
