Iran moves to ease export barriers to Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq

Iran is reviewing measures to remove barriers to exports to neighboring countries, including Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq, as part of efforts to support exporters facing transportation and logistics challenges, a senior Iranian Foreign Ministry official said.

Hamid Ghanbari, Iran’s deputy foreign minister for economic diplomacy, announced the proposals following the 12th meeting of the Economic Relations Coordination Headquarters, which focused on trade diplomacy and non-oil exports.

The meeting, held at the Iranian Foreign Ministry on Saturday, brought together economic deputies from government agencies to discuss exporters’ challenges and coordinate practical solutions.

Ghanbari said disruptions to transportation and logistics had prevented some exporters from fulfilling their obligations. In other cases, exporters who had received foreign currency to import raw materials were unable to complete their purchases because of difficulties along transportation routes.

To address these challenges, Iranian authorities have proposed revising existing procedures and regulations governing exporters’ obligations. Ghanbari said the proposed measures had received approval from relevant government agencies.

Iran Seeks to Facilitate Regional Trade

The Iranian official also highlighted proposals to resolve problems affecting exports to neighboring countries, particularly Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq.

He said the proposals could be pursued through negotiations with foreign counterparts, with Iran’s embassies and consulates expected to follow up on the relevant issues.

The initiative comes as Iran seeks to maintain its export flows and strengthen regional trade links despite ongoing economic and logistical challenges.

Ghanbari expressed hope that the measures would help preserve existing export markets, improve the targeting of shipments and support further growth in Iran’s non-oil exports.

However, the specific measures for Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq, as well as the timeline for their implementation, have not yet been announced.

If implemented, the proposals could help address some of the obstacles facing Iranian exporters trading with neighboring markets, including Afghanistan.