Viral Outbreak Impacts Trade With Neighbors

Iran’s trade with neighboring countries has been affected by the recent coronavirus outbreak.

“Trade with Afghanistan, Iraq, Azerbaijan and Russia (via Azerbaijan) is underway without restrictions, while Turkmenistan, Pakistan and Turkey have stopped the trading of goods with Iran via road,” Manouchehr Salmanzadeh, the director general of International Transit and Transport Office of Iran Road Maintenance and Transportation Organization, told Tasnim News Agency.

Referring to Iraq, Iran's biggest export destination, the official said the neighboring country has only imposed restrictions on passenger transport at the border crossings of Mehran and Khosravi, stressing that no restrictions have been imposed by the Iraqi side on exchange of goods.

“Impediments to trade flow at Mehran border are due to shortage of human resources on the Iraqi side of the border,” he said.

According to Salmanzadeh, Iran and Iraq have seven joint borders, five of which are currently open for commercial exchanges.