Iran’s president has emphasized expanding economic and trade cooperation with Afghanistan.
Masoud Pezeshkian has instructed the country’s executive bodies to remove existing barriers to trade and transit between the two countries.
Speaking at an Iranian cabinet meeting, Pezeshkian highlighted the importance of economic ties with Afghanistan and stressed the need to facilitate cross-border exchanges, saying economic cooperation between Tehran and Kabul should not remain at its current level and must expand further.
The meeting also included a report on the Iranian agriculture minister’s visit to Afghanistan.
According to the report, the Afghan side welcomed the expansion of bilateral relations and expressed readiness to increase trade with Iran.
Meanwhile, the vice president of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, in a meeting with the deputy head of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment, stressed the establishment of a joint investment fund between the private sectors of the two countries.
Ghadir Ghiafeh said establishing supportive laws and mechanisms is an important factor in expanding trade and increasing investment between Iran and Afghanistan.
He added: “Today, we can establish a new presence in Afghanistan’s infrastructure sector. Without infrastructure, the development and processing of mines in the country will certainly remain out of reach. All of this needs to take shape so that within three to five years, we can achieve at least $6 billion in trade.”
Wasim Safi, head of the executive board of the Chamber of Agriculture and Livestock, said regarding ties with Iran: “Our proposal is for Iran to cooperate with us in various areas, including overseas cultivation and sourcing the raw materials it needs from Afghan products. We also want cooperation with Afghanistan in improved seeds and the transfer of technical expertise available to the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
These calls come as US economic pressure on Iran is also increasing.
US President Donald Trump has announced the launch of what he described as the “heaviest economic operation” against Iran and has intensified Iran’s naval blockade.
Under this approach, Trump has also threatened countries maintaining economic cooperation with Tehran with economic consequences.