TEHRAN (Iran News) Sadegh stated, “The completion of transit corridors should have happened much earlier, but it’s not too late even now.” She pointed out that China still views Iran as a faster, cheaper, and shorter transit route for goods, a factor that has encouraged Turkey to deepen ties with Iran. “Developing border terminals is also among our priorities,” she added.

In the past five months, the ministry has ramped up engagement with neighbors through joint commissions, webinars, and invitations to visit Iran, focusing on borders, terminals, and regional connectivity. Addressing a recent issue faced by Iranian truck drivers at the Turkish border over the “full fuel tank” policy, Sadegh praised the role of provincial governors, particularly West Azerbaijan Governor Rahman Rahmani, whose efforts bolstered Iran’s negotiating position with Turkish officials.

“Despite energy imbalances, sanctions, and potential escalation of restrictions, transportation and transit remain a fundamental solution,” she said, urging preparations to facilitate this sector. Sadegh highlighted that connecting transit roads to borders and railways would drive development and wealth creation, calling on governors to advocate this vision to the government, parliament, and judiciary.

Sadegh acknowledged requests for cash funding amid energy shortages and other challenges but noted the complexity of disbursing funds late in the fiscal year (month 12 of the Persian calendar, nearing Nowruz). She cited obligations like payments to wheat farmers and nurses—debts inherited from previous administrations—explaining that even funds from revenue-cost companies had been redirected to farmers. “Allocating funds isn’t something I can simply order; the resources must exist,” she said, noting that provinces have so far received bonds rather than cash.

She revealed that 8 trillion tomans from her ministry’s budget went to the Planning and Budget Organization, with a quarter allocated to parliament. With provinces juggling projects at 5% to 95% completion, Sadegh instructed her team to list road projects needing less than 20 kilometers to finish—some lingering for 5 to 25 years. Completing these alone requires over 500 trillion toman nationwide.

Sadegh urged governors to prioritize projects and not tie asset monetization solely to her ministry’s properties. She encouraged them to leverage assets from other entities with a “fatherly perspective,” citing Alborz province as a success story where monetized land is funding a highway. “Governors should submit their monetization and project priorities to us,” she said.

On housing, Sadegh referenced the Seventh Development Plan and the Housing Production Leap Law. Approximately 1.8 million people have registered over recent years, meeting eligibility criteria, with 800,000 securing initial payments. In recent months, 60,000 more projects were linked to bank loans, bringing the total to 430,000, though 400,000 remain unfunded. After talks with the Central Bank, loan quotas were assigned to banks, and Sadegh urged governors to monitor banks’ compliance.

Housing preparation, she explained, is split between her ministry (one-third), the Ministry of Energy and regional water companies (one-third), and governorates (one-third). Citing a completed single-story housing project in Tabas lacking water, she said, “We won’t inaugurate it without water.” In some areas, land preparation costs 5 to 10 times the land’s value, which she deemed wasteful. “In some cases, buying homes would be cheaper,” she added.

Under the Population Youth Law, securing land has proven difficult in some provinces. Sadegh stressed that only land with clear boundaries should be allocated. While land swaps with contractors were previously barred, the 2025 budget now allows it, promising relief.

Of the 800,000 funded housing projects, over 300,000 belong to higher-income deciles (8–10), requiring prioritization for the rest. “Not everything can hinge on the budget; provinces must act creatively,” she said, pledging to delegate authority if needed. She also addressed land shortages in free trade zones, noting a new agreement with the Free Zones High Council to streamline monetization and other processes.

The Minister also warned non-compliant airlines: If they increase airfare prices arbitrarily and without regulation, their licenses will be revoked.

The issue of airfare prices was one of the topics discussed in the second meeting to review the 1404 (2025) Nowruz travels at the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development.

In this meeting, Sadeghcriticized the unregulated increase in airfare prices and called for serious action against non-compliant airlines. She stated: “These days, airfare prices have become outrageous, and some airlines increase prices whenever they decide.”

She continued: “While we had an agreement with airlines to keep fuel prices under control so they wouldn’t rise, they have still raised ticket prices.” The Minister of Roads and Urban Development said: “Given the recent resolution of the Consumer Protection Task Force, we must intervene in airfare pricing, and if they cannot prevent the price increases, their licenses will be revoked.” She added: “In this case, compliant airlines will be encouraged, and the public will understand that our supervision is not just about issuing notices and giving verbal warnings.”

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TEHRAN (Iran News) Javad Hedayati, Director General of the Office of Transit and International Transport, announced the signing of this agreement, emphasizing its potential to support national fleets and lower trade expenses. He highlighted Uzbekistan as a populous nation and the fastest-growing economy in Central Asia, making the agreement crucial for both countries.

Hedayati further noted that Central Asia’s five nations, with their vast geography, high population, and continuous economic growth, serve as key export and transit destinations for Iran. He also mentioned similar agreements in 2022, including the removal of a $1.5 per kilometer transit fee in Turkmenistan and a visa exemption for Iranian drivers in Kazakhstan.

A key aspect of Iran-Uzbekistan relations is their Joint Economic Commission, managed by Iran’s Ministry of Industry, Mine, and Trade and Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Investment, Industry, and Trade. During the 15th session of this commission in mid-2022, both countries agreed to increase bilateral trade to $1 billion by 2025.

Additionally, Iran, Uzbekistan, Oman, and Turkmenistan are part of the Ashgabat Agreement, aimed at establishing an international transport corridor. Iran’s strong production capabilities in pharmaceuticals, food, construction materials, and agriculture, along with its expertise in technical and engineering services, have been key factors in trade relations. The establishment of an Iranian trade center in Uzbekistan further strengthens this partnership.

However, challenges remain. The absence of an Iranian commercial attaché and an independent Iranian bank in Uzbekistan are notable weaknesses. Other obstacles include Uzbek traders’ limited knowledge of the Iranian market, strong competition in Uzbekistan, transportation issues, lack of direct land connections, transit through Turkmenistan, limited flights, and customs tariffs.

Despite these challenges, the strong political will of both countries to boost trade presents a major opportunity for strengthening economic ties.

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TEHRAN (Iran News) At the beginning of the session, Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development extended New Year greetings to the Russian government and people, expressing hopes for a year of peace and deepened bilateral relations.

Highlighting the importance of the regular sessions involving representatives from both countries, Sadegh referred to the drafting of a joint cooperation memorandum and the preparation of the 2025 roadmap, which was presented to the Russian side during the meeting. She proposed signing both documents simultaneously on a specified date.

Sadegh emphasized the necessity of developing transport cooperation within the North-South Corridor. She noted that, based on previous agreements, the goal of achieving a transit capacity of 10 million tons of cargo must be prioritized. Additionally, the existing infrastructure of the corridor, including rail, road, and sea routes, should be expanded to activate a 20-million-ton capacity.

Sadeq also emphasized: Considering the prior agreements between Iran and Russia, achieving the goal of transiting 10 million tons of cargo along the North-South Corridor is essential. The 20-million-ton transit capacity along the current routes of this corridor must be activated through rail, road, and maritime infrastructure.

She highlighted the importance of activating the eastern branch of the North-South Corridor and the necessity of swiftly implementing executive actions. The minister also stressed the need for the swift activation of the eastern branch of the corridor, the establishment of a trilateral transport and customs committee among Iran, Russia, and Azerbaijan, and facilitating visa issuance for Iranian truck drivers. She highlighted the importance of increasing commercial shipping capacity and expanding passenger lines in the Caspian Sea.

Sadegh described the creation of a comprehensive transport roadmap between the two countries as a significant achievement currently being pursued by both ministries.

Roman Starovoyt, Russia’s Minister of Transport, expressed his appreciation for the Iranian minister’s efforts in organizing the productive meetings and agreed with all the proposals discussed during the session.

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As previously announced by the Iranian deputy transport minister, 10.8 million tons of commodities were transited through the country in the past Iranian calendar year 1401 (ended on March 20).

Shahriyar Afandizadeh also announced that Iran registered a new record high with the transit of 8.3 million tons of non-oil goods in 1401, adding that 2.5 million tons of oil products were also transited via the country in the previous year.

“Considering the transit of 7.5 million tons of non-oil goods in 1400, we have seen a 10.7-percent growth in the transit of this type of goods in 1401 compared to the previous year”, the official said.

“In 1401, we witnessed important developments and achievements in the strategic and operational areas of the country’s transit, whose definitive effects will be seen gradually and steadily on the growth of transit from the country in 1402 and the coming years”, the deputy transport minister further highlighted.

Afandizadeh then explained: “In line with the activation and development of the North-South International Transport Corridor, in a tripartite meeting in last September between the high-ranking officials of our country and the Russian Federation and the Republic of Azerbaijan in Baku, while aiming to achieve the transit of 15 million tons of goods through this corridor by 2030, agreements were reached in the field of strengthening the cooperation of the three countries in joint investment and financing, the completion and development of key infrastructures and their exploitation, especially the construction of the Rasht-Astara railway line, facilitating cross-border traffic of goods and increasing the quality and quantity of this traffic”, adding that the implementation of these agreements is being followed up.

He went on to say, “One of the most important events last year was Iran’s full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). In a short period of time after the meeting of the heads of Shanghai in September 1401 in Samarkand, the first six-party meeting of the transport ministers of Iran and the countries of Central Asia, in addition to Russia and Azerbaijan was held in Tehran in October 1401 with the goal of achieving 20-million tons of annual transit between Iran and Central Asian countries, as an area with a very high role and importance in east-west and north-south transit, especially after the recent regional and international developments, which was approved by the members.”

This year, the issue of transit and playing a role in major programs such as those related to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), and Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is one of the main priorities of the Transport Ministry in developing transport relations with regional and extra-regional target countries, the deputy transport minister noted.

After seven years of reduction in the transit of goods from the country, the growth path of transit resumed in the past Iranian calendar year 1400 (ended on March 20, 2022) and with the passage of 12.65 million tons of goods through Iran, a growth of 68 percent was achieved.

The policy of paying attention to neighbors and developing political and economic relations with neighboring countries in the current government, increasing attention to road and rail routes in the world, and the efforts and cooperation of transportation and trade-related organizations in establishing or activating corridors through the country has led to significant growth in transit of goods through Iran.

Iran is one of the countries with a special status in trade and transit relations due to its strategic location and special geography, as the country is the passage of several important international corridors.

Considering its geographical location, Iran can play a significant role in the transit of goods in the region and benefit a lot from its status in this due.

Paying attention to upstream documents, especially the country’s development plans, and the government’s decision to develop transit, paying special attention to infrastructure development, reducing transit time, making it cheaper to cross Iran and making more advantages over competitors, due to the short path for customers, can lead to facilitating the development of transit so that the country can reach the desired growth in this due.

In early June, Afandizadeh announced that the Transport and Urban Development Ministry is preparing a five-year comprehensive plan for increasing transportation and transit relations with Central Asia, as well as the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman countries.

According to the official, the mentioned plan is being prepared in collaboration with all related bodies, and negotiations are underway for its finalization under the framework of several memorandums of understanding (MOUs) at the level of the relevant ministers.

The plan includes the basic strategies and executive roadmap in a step-by-step manner for the next five years and will mark the evolution of the bilateral transport and transit relations with the target countries, including the countries of Central Asia and the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, Afandizadeh explained.

This year, the issue of transit and playing a role in major programs such as those related to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), and Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is one of the main priorities of the Transport Ministry in developing transport relations with regional and extra-regional target countries, the deputy transport minister noted.

MA

The post Transit of goods via Iran rises 5.4% in 5 months on year appeared first on Iran News Daily.

As reported, 4,006,500 tons of oil and non-oil products were transited via the country’s roads and railways during the four-month period.

As previously announced by the Iranian deputy transport minister, 10.8 million tons of commodities were transited through the country in the past Iranian calendar year 1401 (ended on March 20).

Shahriyar Afandizadeh also announced that Iran registered a new record high with the transit of 8.3 million tons of non-oil goods in 1401, adding that 2.5 million tons of oil products were also transited via the country in the previous year.

“Considering the transit of 7.5 million tons of non-oil goods in 1400, we have seen a 10.7-percent growth in the transit of this type of goods in 1401 compared to the previous year”, the official said.

“In 1401, we witnessed important developments and achievements in the strategic and operational areas of the country’s transit, whose definitive effects will be seen gradually and steadily on the growth of transit from the country in 1402 and the coming years”, the deputy transport minister further highlighted.

Afandizadeh then explained: “In line with the activation and development of the North-South International Transport Corridor, in a tripartite meeting in last September between the high-ranking officials of our country and the Russian Federation and the Republic of Azerbaijan in Baku, while aiming to achieve the transit of 15 million tons of goods through this corridor by 2030, agreements were reached in the field of strengthening the cooperation of the three countries in joint investment and financing, the completion and development of key infrastructures and their exploitation, especially the construction of the Rasht-Astara railway line, facilitating cross-border traffic of goods and increasing the quality and quantity of this traffic”, adding that the implementation of these agreements is being followed up.

He went on to say, “One of the most important events last year was Iran’s full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). In a short period of time after the meeting of the heads of Shanghai in September 1401 in Samarkand, the first six-party meeting of the transport ministers of Iran and the countries of Central Asia, in addition to Russia and Azerbaijan was held in Tehran in October 1401 with the goal of achieving 20-million tons of annual transit between Iran and Central Asian countries, as an area with a very high role and importance in east-west and north-south transit, especially after the recent regional and international developments, which was approved by the members.”

This year, the issue of transit and playing a role in major programs such as those related to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), and Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is one of the main priorities of the Transport Ministry in developing transport relations with regional and extra-regional target countries, the deputy transport minister noted.

After seven years of reduction in the transit of goods from the country, the growth path of transit resumed in the past Iranian calendar year 1400 (ended on March 20, 2022) and with the passage of 12.65 million tons of goods through Iran, a growth of 68 percent was achieved.

The policy of paying attention to neighbors and developing political and economic relations with neighboring countries in the current government, increasing attention to road and rail routes in the world, and the efforts and cooperation of transportation and trade-related organizations in establishing or activating corridors through the country has led to significant growth in transit of goods through Iran.

Iran is one of the countries with a special status in trade and transit relations due to its strategic location and special geography, as the country is the passage of several important international corridors.

Considering its geographical location, Iran can play a significant role in the transit of goods in the region and benefit a lot from its status in this due.

Paying attention to upstream documents, especially the country’s development plans, and the government’s decision to develop transit, paying special attention to infrastructure development, reducing transit time, making it cheaper to cross Iran and making more advantages over competitors, due to the short path for customers, can lead to facilitating the development of transit so that the country can reach the desired growth in this due.

In early June, Deputy Transport Minister Shahriyar Afandizadeh announced that the Transport and Urban Development Ministry is preparing a five-year comprehensive plan for increasing transportation and transit relations with Central Asia, as well as the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman countries.

According to Afandizadeh, the mentioned plan is being prepared in collaboration with all related bodies, and negotiations are underway for its finalization under the framework of several memorandums of understanding (MOUs) at the level of the relevant ministers.

The plan includes the basic strategies and executive roadmap in a step-by-step manner for the next five years and will mark the evolution of the bilateral transport and transit relations with the target countries, including the countries of Central Asia and the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, Afandizadeh explained.

This year, the issue of transit and playing a role in major programs such as those related to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), and Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is one of the main priorities of the Transport Ministry in developing transport relations with regional and extra-regional target countries, the deputy transport minister noted.

The post Transit of goods via Iran rises 33% in 4 months on year appeared first on Iran News Daily.

Iran is one of the countries with a special status in trade and transit relations due to its strategic location and special geography, as the country is the passage of several important international corridors.

Considering its geographical location, Iran can play a significant role in the transit of goods in the region and benefit a lot from its status in this due.

Paying attention to upstream documents, especially the country’s development plans, and the government’s decision to develop transit, paying special attention to infrastructure development, reducing transit time, making it cheaper to cross Iran and making more advantages over competitors, due to the short path for customers, can lead to facilitating the development of transit so that the country can reach the desired growth in this due.

The secretary of the Free Zones High Council announced that Iran is negotiating with 17 countries for the establishment of joint free zones and said by setting up these free zones, trade and investment will be facilitated.

Abdolmaleki named Russia as one of the countries in this due.

In early June, Deputy Transport Minister Shahriyar Afandizadeh announced that the Transport and Urban Development Ministry is preparing a five-year comprehensive plan for increasing transportation and transit relations with Central Asia, as well as the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman countries.

In mid-Mach, the deputy head of the Free Zones High Council said that Iran and Iraq have reached an agreement to form a joint free trade zone on the border of the two countries in the near future.

According to Ahmad Jamali, the decision for establishing the mentioned zone was made during the two countries’ fifth Joint Economic Committee meeting in Baghdad.

Underlining the fact that three of Iran’s major free zones are located near the Iraqi border, Jamali noted that along with the joint zone, these four free trade zones can play a significant role in boosting the trade exchanges between the two countries.

The establishment of free trade zones (FTZs) in Iran dates back to the Iranian calendar year 1368 (March 1989 – March 1990) following the fall in the country’s oil income in the preceding year which prompted the government to promote non-oil exports.

Last month, Deputy Transport Minister Shahriyar Afandizadeh announced that the Transport and Urban Development Ministry is preparing a five-year comprehensive plan for increasing transportation and transit relations with Central Asia, as well as the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman countries.

According to Afandizadeh, the mentioned plan is being prepared in collaboration with all related bodies, and negotiations are underway for its finalization under the framework of several memorandums of understanding (MOUs) at the level of the relevant ministers.

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Selahvarzi made the remarks during a meeting in Tehran with two IRU representatives on Saturday.

He also said that Iran Chamber of Commerce stands ready to cooperate in holding international events to help promote transit.

Iraq has recently joined the TIR Convention which will remove a large part of challenges to border transit with the country, Selahvarzi said, adding that considering the high experience of the Iran Chamber of Commerce TIR department, it held training courses for the Iraqi side.

He noted that the Iran Chamber of Commerce has good relations with the country’s executive bodies and will make every effort to remove the red tape to help facilitate trade, investment and transit.

In the meantime, Behnam Faramarzian, the director of international transportation and TIR carnet department of Iran Chamber of Commerce, said that Iran has been the world’s top issuer of TIR carnets since 2021.

He said that Iran aims to expand its Ro-Ro system of transit and launch well-equipped terminals with the help of IRU and other international transportation organizations.

Kazam Asayesh, a senior manager with TIR and Transit of IRU, hailed the successful cooperation between IRU and the Iran Chamber of Commerce as a good example of cooperation.

The statistics suggest that Iran Chamber of Commerce has had a significant role in enhancement of transit through the Iranian routes, he said.

Asayesh added that Iran has set a good model for other countries in this regard. He added that if Iran minimizes its border problems, its transit routes with offering facilities and reducing cost of transit will become compatible, adding that it only needs to increase coordination between the related bodies on the country.

He reiterated that Iran should be more active in the issue of E-TIR and it should not let lag behind other countries and in this regard Iran Custom Administration should be active and pursue the issue.

The post ICCIMA Ready to Cooperate With IRU in Regional Transit appeared first on Iran News Daily.

Speaking in a ceremony marking Russia’s National Day which was held in Tehran, Mehrdad Bazrpash felicitated the day to Russian government and nation and said that relation of Tehran-Moscow is very old with many ups and downs, adding that today relation of the two countries in the political, economic, cultural and scientific fields are upward trend.

He then pointed to the exchange of high-ranking government and private sector officials, rise in the volume of trade exchanges, rise in the reciprocal investment, diversity in the exporting and importing goods baskets, rise in the volume of transit and joint economic projects and rise in the number of direct flights between different cities of the two countries are considerable issues.

He added that they prospect a growing future for reinforcing transport infrastructures, road, rail, sea and air transit as well as creating a financial and banking connection.

Bazrpash further said that some major and effective actions are underway for harmonizing standards, easing and increasing trade of goods and services, using experiences and economic capacities of both countries for meeting the demands of their markets and presence in the third party markets as well as new businesses based on the modern technology and these relations have a bright future ahead.

He reiterated that Iran and Russia beside their close relation have close views on the regional and international issues. He added that two countries have close cooperation for restoring peace and broadening  economic cooperation in SCO, EAEU as well as in the Caspian Sea.

He went on to say that free trade agreement between Iran and the EAEU is of the main factors for easing economic relation between Iran and Russia and expressed hope by using those capacities, the grounds for broadening trade exchanges as well as investment for joint production would be paved.

Bazrpash then pointed to the determination of Tehran for broadening friendly relation with friendly and neighboring countries and wished Russia peace, welfare, tranquility and development.

Then Ambassador of Russia to Tehran Alexey Dedov, for his part, welcome Bazrpash to the event and said that his country has set its relation with all countries based on mutual respect and the best example for his claim is friendly relation with Iran that despite sanctions against both countries, Russia’s exchanges with Iran are broadening in all fields.

He said this year so far presidents of both countries four times have talked on phone and they have met each other in international events and supported each other.

He then pointed to the importance of the North-South Corridor and said that Russia welcomes cooperation with Iran in this project.

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