Taliban Announces $90 Million Trade Agreement With Iranian Shipping Firm
Taliban-affiliated media say a 90 million dollar agreement has been signed between Afghanistan’s Dried Fruit Exporters’ Union and an Iranian shipping company.
Taliban-affiliated media say a 90 million dollar agreement has been signed between Afghanistan’s Dried Fruit Exporters’ Union and an Iranian shipping company.
The agreement enables Afghan goods to be transported to international markets by sea.
Al-Emarah, one of the Taliban’s official media outlets, reported on Wednesday that the deal was concluded on the sidelines of a “trade connectivity” meeting attended by Taliban officials and representatives from Iran, Uzbekistan and India.
The agreement comes as the Taliban have severed trade and transit ties with Pakistan and are seeking alternative corridors, particularly through Iran, to sustain exports. Earlier, the Taliban’s minister of industry and commerce travelled to Iran to participate in a joint economic forum.
The Taliban are working to shift Afghanistan’s trade routes away from Pakistan’s ports, including Karachi, and towards Iran’s Chabahar and Bandar Abbas ports. Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban’s deputy prime minister for economic affairs, recently urged Afghan traders to adopt alternative routes to reach regional and international markets.
Iran has welcomed the growing commercial engagement. Alireza Bikdeli, Iran’s ambassador in Kabul, said Tehran now stands with the Taliban more firmly than ever in advancing economic objectives and described Iran as a “reliable partner” with significant transit, commercial and agricultural capacity.
