Minister of Roads and Urban Development Meets IRU Secretary-General

TEHRAN (Iran News) Farzaneh Sadegh Malvajerd highlighted Iran’s close collaboration with the IRU during the meeting. She emphasized that as a leading international organization in road transport, the IRU has maintained strong cooperation with Iran’s Ministry of Roads and Urban Development. She further noted that Iran’s share in transit cargo transportation along the North-South and East-West corridors could be significantly increased by utilizing IRU’s advanced tools, particularly digital solutions.

Sadegh Malvajerd pointed to Iran’s new record of 20 million tons of transit cargo in 2024 as evidence of the country’s high capacity in international transport. She stressed that this achievement underscores the need for greater engagement with the IRU and stronger regional cooperation.

The minister also highlighted the importance of international transport cooperation, emphasizing the exchange of commercial information and transport regulations among member states of the TIR Convention. She called for the acceleration of discussions on road transport safety and the possibility of collaboration with the Road Safety Fund, recognizing IRU’s role in facilitating transport cooperation and road safety.

During the meeting, Sadegh Malvajerd announced Iran’s upcoming presidency of the Intergovernmental Commission on TRACECA (Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia) in the next two weeks. She stated: “We are organizing the ministerial meeting of the TRACECA Intergovernmental Commission, and we hope this summit will create unique opportunities for expanding regional interactions and strengthening the TIR system.”

IRU Secretary-General Umberto de Pretto, acknowledging Iran’s role in regional road transport, described the appointment of a female minister in Iran’s transport sector as an inspiring move on the global stage. He noted the underrepresentation of women in the transport industry and expressed hope that this appointment would encourage greater female participation in the sector.

De Pretto also agreed with Minister Sadegh Malvajerd’s perspective on the role of transport in regional peace and stability, emphasizing that trade via road transport is a crucial tool for global stability. “Iran is a leader and pioneer in implementing the TIR Convention in the region, and Iranian road transport companies and professionals have decades of expertise in this field. Iran’s cooperation in expanding regional transit through the implementation of this convention across all countries in the region could be highly effective,” he stated.

The TIR Convention is an international agreement designed to facilitate international road transport and reduce trade barriers. It enables seamless door-to-door cargo transportation from origin to destination without unnecessary stops. As one of the leading countries in implementing this system, Iran plays a key role in the development of international transit routes.