Afghanistan-Iran Trade Surges Amid 47th Anniversary of Iran’s Islamic Revolution in Herat

As the 47th anniversary of the victory of Iran’s Islamic Revolution was commemorated in Herat province, local officials and Iranian diplomats announced a significant increase in trade between Afghanistan and Iran. According to them, by facilitating some trade processes and expanding transit routes, the volume of exchanges between the two countries has grown remarkably.

Ali-Reza Marhamati, the Consul General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Herat, stated at the event that with the development of the Herat-Khaf railway line, the transfer of goods between the two countries has expanded. He added that in the solar year 1403 (March 2024-March 2025), about five thousand tons of goods were transported monthly via this route, but now this figure has risen to more than ninety thousand tons per month.

Local officials in Herat also declared that in the current solar year, the volume of trade between Afghanistan and Iran has reached five billion dollars. They noted that trade exchanges continue to increase.

The Herat Chamber of Industries and Mines also reported an expansion in commercial and industrial relations between the two countries. Mohammad Nasser Amin, the head of this institution, said that trade and industrial activities between Iran and Afghanistan have increased and it is predicted that trade volumes will exceed five billion dollars this year.

Currently, Iran is Afghanistan’s largest trading partner, with a significant portion of the country’s required goods either directly imported from Iran or transported through it to Afghanistan. Seyed Agha Farzan, an economic expert, stated that these exchanges benefit both parties as Afghanistan needs to import certain raw materials from Iran, while Iran also requires some raw materials available in Afghanistan. According to him, the shared border between the two countries is considered one of the most active and independent economic gateways in the region.

Meanwhile, Herat local officials emphasize that with some crossings with Pakistan remaining closed, the route through Iran has become one of the main channels for transporting commercial goods to Afghanistan, supplying a large part of the country’s needs via this corridor.