Iran, Azerbaijan Agree on Measures to Reduce Truck Congestion at Astara Border

TEHRAN (Iran News) A joint border meeting was held on Tuesday between senior customs officials of Iran and Azerbaijan at the Astara–Astara border bridge. The meeting was attended by the Deputy Head of the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Director of Azerbaijan’s Astara Customs, and their accompanying delegation. On the Iranian side, participants included the Director General of Astara Customs, the Director General of the Transit and International Transport Office of Iran’s Road Maintenance and Transportation Organization, and the Director General of Road Maintenance for Gilan Province.

During the meeting, the two sides agreed that, on average, between 350 and 370 trucks would be allowed to exit daily through the combined capacity of the old and new Astara border crossings. This measure is expected to significantly ease congestion, particularly during peak export periods.

Earlier the same day, a coordination meeting was held in Astara to discuss the operational launch of the new border terminal specifically for the exit of refrigerated export trucks. The meeting was attended by Nader Ansarian, Director General of Astara Customs; Javad Hedayati, Director General of the Transit and International Transport Office of the Road Maintenance and Transportation Organization; Ali Darmani, Governor of Astara County; and Fariborz Moradi, Director General of Road Maintenance for Gilan Province.

Explaining the outcomes of the meeting, Ansarian said discussions focused on facilitating the direct exit of refrigerated export trucks through the new Astara border crossing. He noted that it was agreed these trucks, after completing all required customs formalities, would be allowed to leave the country directly via the new terminal rather than passing through the old customs area.

“This decision will significantly speed up the exit process for refrigerated export trucks,” Ansarian said. “It will also help reduce traffic congestion inside the old customs compound and shorten truck queues in the border hinterland.”

He added that, based on negotiations conducted during the joint border meeting with the Azerbaijani side, an agreement was reached to accept a maximum of 120 to 140 refrigerated export trucks per day through the new border crossing. As part of the initial implementation phase, 40 trucks exited on a trial basis on Monday night.

Ansarian said this pilot process will continue and gradually scale up until the agreed daily capacity with the Azerbaijani authorities is fully reached. He emphasized that the move represents an important step toward improving border management, facilitating trade flows, and supporting exporters—particularly those transporting perishable goods that require timely cross-border movement.

Officials on both sides expressed hope that the new arrangements would not only ease congestion at the Astara border but also enhance bilateral trade efficiency and strengthen transit cooperation between Iran and Azerbaijan in the long term.