Iran, Tajikistan and Afghanistan have signed a trilateral agreement to establish a joint road transport corridor through Afghanistan, aiming to facilitate cargo transit, strengthen economic cooperation and expand Iran’s role in regional transport networks, according to officials.
IRAF, citing Tajikistan’s National Information Agency Khovar, reported that the agreement was finalized following earlier meetings between Tajik Transport Minister Azim Ibrohim and Iranian and Afghan officials. The deal was formally signed during negotiations held in the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad on July 5-6.
The signing ceremony was attended by Reza Akbari, head of Iran’s Road Maintenance and Transportation Organization, Shoista Saidmurodzoda, Tajikistan’s deputy transport minister, and Yar Mohammad Ramazan, a representative of the Taliban’s Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation.
Under the agreement, the new corridor will provide a route for commercial goods between Iran and Tajikistan via Afghanistan, with Iranian officials describing the initiative as a significant step toward strengthening transit diplomacy, lowering transportation costs and increasing Iran’s share of regional trade.
Officials also said the corridor could improve connectivity between Iran, Central Asia and China, potentially enhancing regional supply chains.
A trial shipment is scheduled to take place within the next month to assess customs procedures, border controls and operational coordination among the three countries’ transport authorities.
The agreement also establishes a permanent trilateral working group tasked with addressing implementation challenges, reducing truck waiting times at border crossings, simplifying documentation for drivers and improving transport insurance mechanisms.
