Gholam Hossein Mozaffari, governor of Iran’s Khorasan province, has announced a new initiative for cooperation with the Taliban on the extraction and processing of Afghanistan’s precious and semi-precious stones.
Speaking on Wednesday at the 18th International Tourism and Handicrafts Fair in Razavi Khorasan, Mozaffari described Afghanistan as a key trade partner due to its vast mineral wealth. He revealed that both sides are working to establish a joint economic and mining zone within the Dogharoon free trade area, located near the Iran-Afghanistan border.
The initiative aims to create a regional hub for the processing and export of Afghan gemstones to international markets.
"With its extensive expertise in gemstone processing, Iran can help elevate this industry to a global standard through collaboration with Afghan traders," Mozaffari said. "This partnership will deliver mutual benefits."
He also underlined the crucial role Afghan merchants play in sourcing goods from Iran, noting that Iranian exports to Afghanistan surpassed $2.2 billion last year. Iran, he said, is looking to further improve its trade balance with Afghanistan through expanded economic cooperation and joint projects.
In recent years, ties between Iran and the Taliban administration have deepened, particularly under the direction of the Iranian president. Tehran has prioritised strengthening economic and trade relations with the Taliban, especially across border provinces.
