Hundreds of Iranian Fuel Tankers Stranded in Afghanistan Amid Taliban Inaction
Hundreds of fuel tankers carrying gasoline from Iran remain stranded in Afghanistan for several months, after entering through the Dogharoon border crossing. Afghan Taliban authorities have yet to propose a clear solution for the return or offloading of the shipments.
Mohammad Ali Nabipour, the political and social deputy governor of Iran’s Khorasan Razavi province, stated that 736 tankers have been stuck in Afghanistan for nearly half a year due to the Afghan side’s refusal to accept the cargo. According to him, approximately 70 percent of these vehicles are operated by Iranian drivers, with the remaining 30 percent belonging to Afghan residents.
During his visit to the energy zones near the Dogharoon border, Nabipour emphasized that efforts to resolve the issue are ongoing. While several provincial-level meetings have produced what he described as “positive outcomes,” there has been no tangible action from the Taliban administration.
Hossein Jamshidi, governor of Taybad, also voiced concern over the delay in resolving the issue. He noted that the prolonged halt of these tankers — especially during the cold season and in the absence of reliable infrastructure — has caused significant dissatisfaction among Iranian drivers and cargo owners.
Iranian local officials say attempts have been made to repatriate part of the gasoline shipments, and some oil storage facilities in the Dogharoon Free Zone have been brought online to help facilitate the process.
Due to the Taliban administration’s apparent delays and lack of cooperation, the number of halted tankers has decreased from around 2,000 to 736, according to Jamshidi. These tankers reportedly carry over 25 million liters of gasoline. Notably, 20 percent of goods exported from Dogharoon to Afghanistan consist of fuel products.
Data from Iran’s Customs Authority shows that in just the first half of this year, more than 471,000 tons of goods worth nearly $600 million were exported from Dogharoon to Afghanistan — a significant increase compared to the previous year.
Although Khorasan Razavi province shares a 302-kilometer border with Afghanistan and houses the vital Dogharoon trade zone, the ongoing impasse over the stranded fuel tankers has raised serious questions about the efficiency of this trade route and the Taliban administration’s commitment to honoring its commercial obligations.
