Iran and Tajikistan Agree to Establish Transit Corridor via Afghanistan
Iran and Tajikistan have signed an agreement to launch a new transit corridor through Afghanistan, enabling the transportation of goods between the two countries across Afghan territory.
This agreement was finalized after rounds of talks between Azim Ibrahim, Tajikistan’s Minister of Transport, and Iranian and Afghan officials. It was officially signed during negotiations held on July 5 and 6 in Mashhad. The meeting was attended by Reza Akbari, head of Iran’s Road Maintenance and Transportation Organization, Shoista Saidmoradzadeh, Deputy Minister of Transport of Tajikistan, and Yarmohammad Ramazan, a representative from the Taliban’s Ministry of Transport and Aviation.
Under the agreement, the new corridor will facilitate commercial goods transit between Iran and Tajikistan through Afghanistan. Iranian officials have described this move as part of enhancing transit diplomacy, reducing transportation costs, and increasing Iran’s share in regional trade. They also noted that this route could ease Iran’s connectivity with Central Asia and China.
According to the plan, the first trial run of the route will take place within one month to assess customs procedures, border controls, and coordination among institutions of the three countries. Additionally, a permanent trilateral working group has been established to monitor the agreement’s implementation, reduce waiting times for freight trucks at borders, simplify driver documentation issuance, and develop a transport insurance system.
Tajik officials also stated that if this project proves successful, the road corridor could be extended to other Central Asian countries and China. Based on the agreement, the next meeting of representatives from the three countries is scheduled for late October or early November this year in Kabul to review the progress of commitment implementation.
