Iran Says Trade With Afghanistan Continues Despite Conflict
Iran’s Consul General in Herat says trade between Afghanistan and Iran has continued despite the recent war and conflict in Iran, adding that Afghanistan now has its highest level of trade with the country.
Ali Reza Marhamati said Tehran has sought to ensure that recent developments do not affect commercial ties, including gas exports to Afghanistan.
He also stressed that Iran supports the development of Afghanistan’s trade, industry, and mining sectors, describing Afghanistan’s economic growth as beneficial to both countries.
Marhamati said: “Afghanistan now has its highest level of trade with Iran, and we are pleased with this. We are working to ensure that Afghanistan is not only an importer but can also export its own products to Iran and other countries.”
According to figures from Afghanistan’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce, trade between Afghanistan and Iran increased by 6.7 percent last year, reaching $3.632 billion.
Of that total, $72 million consisted of Afghanistan’s exports to Iran.
However, the Afghanistan Chamber of Agriculture and Livestock says sustaining growth in bilateral trade requires stable transit routes, easier trade procedures, and increased Afghan exports.
Omid Haidari, the chamber’s head of international relations, said: “We ask the leadership of the Islamic Emirate to continue the positive understandings we have had with Iran and to provide greater facilitation for exports, imports, and transit through the ports of Bandar Abbas, Bandar Lengeh, and Chabahar, so that Afghan traders can export more goods to Iran and other countries.”
Although Iran has remained Afghanistan’s largest trading partner following the decline in trade between Kabul and Islamabad, the trade balance continues to favor Iran, with Afghanistan’s share of exports to the country remaining relatively small.
