Afghanistan-Iran Trade Reaches $5 Billion Amid Expanding Ties, Officials Say

A ceremony marking the 47th anniversary of Iran's Islamic Revolution was held in Herat province, where local and Iranian officials highlighted growing trade between the two countries.

Iran's Consul General in Herat, Ali Reza Marhamati, stated that trade has expanded with the development of the Herat-Khaf railway. He noted that last year (1403 solar year), about 5,000 tons of goods were transported per month, a figure that has now risen to more than 90,000 tons.

Local officials in Herat reported that trade volume between Iran and Afghanistan has reached $5 billion in the current solar year. Mohammad Naser Amin, head of the Herat Chamber of Industries and Mines, said at the event: "Trade and industrial activities between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Afghanistan have increased, and I can say that this year our transactions will exceed $5 billion."

Iran remains Afghanistan's largest trading partner, with most commercial goods imported from or through Iran. Economic analyst Sayed Agha Farzan described the relationship as mutually beneficial, noting that Afghanistan imports raw materials from Iran while Iran sources them from Afghanistan. He added that their shared border represents the most independent economic corridor between the two countries.

Herat officials attributed Iran's rising importance to the continued closure of crossings with Pakistan, making Iran a key route for commercial goods entering Afghanistan.