Iran Reports 17-Fold Increase in Rail Shipments to Afghanistan

Iranian officials announced that rail exchanges between Iran and Afghanistan have increased 17-fold this year. Shahriar Naghizadeh, head of Iran's external rail trade, told IRNA that from the first of Hamal to the fifth of Hoot, 650,000 tons of goods were transported by rail to Afghanistan. He noted that at least 150,000 tons of these were transit shipments from other countries through Iran to Afghanistan. Naghizadeh stated Iran's goal for the Iranian year 1405 is to move 2 million tons of cargo through the Shumtegh border, which he described as achievable.

Mahmoud Siadat, head of the Iran-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce, said Tehran is exploring ways to deepen economic ties with Afghanistan, focusing on contract farming and trade. He mentioned ongoing discussions about formally recognizing the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, noting that such recognition could boost investor confidence and facilitate long-term projects, including rail lines connecting Iran to China via Afghanistan. Siadat highlighted improving relations between Kabul and Tehran despite the lack of recognition. Iran exports over $3 billion in goods and services, including technical and engineering services, to Afghanistan annually, while Afghanistan's exports to Iran are estimated at around $100 million.

Siadat identified agriculture as a key growth area, with plans for contract farming where Iranian companies provide technology, expertise, and purchase guarantees for Afghan agricultural and livestock products. He said, "Instead of importing pulses from Canada, we can source them from Afghanistan," adding that structured cooperation would benefit both countries. He also pointed to remittances from Afghans working in Iran as evidence of strong economic ties, emphasizing that trade remains robust even without formal diplomatic recognition.

Separately, Uzbekistan's Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khojaev announced a goal of $5 billion in bilateral trade with Afghanistan following a video conference with Afghan Minister of Industry and Commerce Nooruddin Azizi. Khojaev noted trade has risen 2.5-fold over five years, from $653 million in 2021 to about $1.7 billion in 2025. The two sides discussed practical steps for expansion, including an Afghan delegation visit post-Ramadan, a trade forum in Kabul, and a roadmap.

Pakistan's Federal Board of Revenue confirmed the "reverse transfer" of Afghanistan's stranded transit cargo from Chaman and Quetta to Karachi and Qasim ports for re-export, after months of halt due to border closures since last Miizan amid conflicts.