Afghanistan to expand economic cooperation with Iran, says Minister Azizi

Nooruddin Azizi, Afghanistan’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, announced during his visit to Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province that the Chabahar port transit route is secure, reliable, and open for trade, and that economic cooperation and joint investment with Iran will be expanded.

Speaking at the Iran-Afghanistan Joint Economic Meeting on Saturday, Azizi said that trade capacity between the two countries has increased. He added that establishing competitive routes with regional ports, including Karachi, is a priority to reduce costs and facilitate commerce.

Azizi emphasized that economic development remains the cornerstone of the Afghan government’s agenda. Both domestic and foreign investment are fully supported, he said, noting that initiatives in the Chabahar Free Zone and transit projects are expected to boost employment and trade growth.

The minister also highlighted Afghanistan’s commitment to constructive engagement with all neighboring and Muslim-majority countries, stressing that disputes should be resolved through dialogue and mutual respect to ensure regional stability.

Addressing the country’s ongoing drought, Azizi described the situation as “critical” and stressed that Afghanistan has maintained water flow to Iran in accordance with principles of good neighborliness, continuing close coordination with Iranian authorities to manage shared water resources responsibly.