Iran says transit cooperation with Afghanistan to expand via Chabahar
Alireza Bigdeli, head of Iran’s embassy in Kabul, said cooperation between Iran and Afghanistan in transit and logistics services has entered a new phase. He said one of the main topics of talks was the use of Iran’s southern ports to transfer Afghan goods.
Bigdeli said the port of Chabahar could help diversify Afghanistan’s trade routes. He added that the port, as Afghanistan’s nearest route to open waters, could provide a way to transfer Afghan goods to markets in India, China and Gulf countries.
Alongside Chabahar, the port of Bandar Abbas also plays an important role in Afghanistan’s import chain through Iran. According to the report, the port can be one of the main routes for imported goods entering Afghanistan and cover part of the country’s transport needs.
At the same time, to follow up on issues related to Chabahar port, Afghanistan has appointed a representative in Iran. This move paves the way for continued joint consultations between the two sides on how to use the port’s potential.
According to reports, trade between Iran and Afghanistan reached $1.6 billion in the past six months. Bigdeli also claimed that US sanctions have not affected economic ties between the two countries and that transit routes remain active.
Chabahar port is located in southeastern Iran on the coast of the Sea of Oman and is considered one of Afghanistan’s most important routes to open waters. In recent years, the port has consistently held an important place in discussions of Afghanistan’s transit and regional trade.
