Iran-Israel Conflict Has Not Affected Afghan Trade Or Prices, Says Taliban
The Taliban’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry has stated that the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel has had no impact on trade flows or commodity prices in Afghanistan.
Abdul Salam Jawad, spokesperson for the ministry, told the Taliban-controlled Radio Television Afghanistan that “the import, transit, and supply of goods in domestic markets are proceeding normally.” His remarks were published on Monday.
Jawad added that the prices of essential goods remain stable across the country and are consistent with established benchmarks. He dismissed reports of food shortages as “personal opinions” not reflective of the broader market situation.
The comments come amid growing regional concerns about the impact of the Iran-Israel war on neighbouring economies. Earlier, Attaullah Omari, the Taliban’s Minister of Agriculture, warned that rising tensions could disrupt Afghanistan’s trade with Iran. Speaking at the 2025 Russia Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, Omari said the Taliban is in discussions with Moscow to ensure continued food imports.
“We still rely on some food items that come from Iran, and if problems arise there, it will undoubtedly have its effects,” Omari told Reuters.
Iran supplies Afghanistan with a range of goods, including dairy products, while Russia and Kazakhstan remain the country’s primary sources of wheat and flour. Russia also exports sugar and vegetable oil to Afghanistan.
Afghanistan became the largest buyer of Russian flour in 2024 and increased its domestic wheat production by 10 percent last year, reaching 4.83 million metric tonnes. The country’s annual wheat consumption is estimated at 6.8 million metric tonnes.
“For the past four years, since the withdrawal of the Americans, we have been making efforts to provide our essential food supplies ourselves,” Omari said. “The remaining amount, including flour and wheat, is supplied annually by Russia.”
