The trade volume between Afghanistan and Iran has reached $4 billion annually. The Iranian Consul General in Herat considers Afghanistan to be his country’s most important economic partner.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce reports that minerals, raisins, lead, various beverages, and sesame are among Afghanistan’s main exports to Iran, while diesel, petrol, gas, raw materials for factories, and cement make up Afghanistan’s primary imports from Iran.
Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, said, “The trade between Afghanistan and Iran in the first nine months of 2024 amounted to $2.194 billion, with $38 million in exports and $2.156 billion in imports.”
The Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Investment also reports that due to recent trade challenges between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Afghan merchants have increased their trade with Iran and, through Iran, with other countries this year.
Jan Agha Naveed, spokesperson for the Chamber of Commerce and Investment, said, “Afghanistan has expanded both its exports and imports through Iranian ports. Reports indicate that this year, the majority of our trade has been conducted via Iran.”
Additionally, some economic experts see the strengthening of trade relations with Iran and the use of Iran’s Chabahar Port for global transit as beneficial for both countries.
Mohammad Asif Stanikzai, an economic expert, said, “Our trade relations with Iran, including the use of Chabahar Port, indicate that the ties between the two countries will only strengthen further.”
Three days ago, Iran’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan announced that Tehran is working to attract Afghan entrepreneurs and private-sector investors to invest in large-scale projects in Iran by offering increased facilities.