Truckers Delayed at Afghan Border

EghtesadOnline: Rouhollah Latifi, the spokesperson of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration said some Afghan transportation companies and truckers have closed the return route of Iranian trucks at the Milak border crossing to challenge a decision by Sistan-Baluchestan Provincial Security Council.

News ID: ۷۵۰۶۳۷

06 August 2020

“In its fight against outbound smuggling, Sistan-Baluchestan Provincial Security Council apprehended 50 Afghan trucks carrying fuel from Iran last Thursday. The Afghans are willing to pay fines rather than see their trucks impounded in Iran for three months.

We have often witnessed inappropriate behavior of the Afghans toward Iranian truckers at the border. Therefore, the return route of Afghan trucks was also restricted by Iran,” he was quoted as saying by ILNA.

Noting that Iran has called for a meeting with Afghan border officials, Latifi said, “For 10 days until last Thursday, hardly 150 Iranians trucks crossed Milak border into the country daily compared to an average 300-500 trucks in the past.”

Afghanistan was Iran’s fourth exports destination in the four months leading to July 21. It purchased 2.11 million tons of goods worth $713 million accounting for 8% of Iran’s total exports in the four months.

Besides Milad (which is the main trade corridor between Iran and Afghanistan), the two countries have two other border crossings, namely Mahiroud and Dogharoun. Trade (mainly exports from Iran) continues here without any problem, Latifi had said recently.