Meeting of Deputy Ministers of Transport of Iran and Turkiye
The Deputy Ministers of Transport of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Turkiye convened to discuss the expansion of bilateral transport cooperation, the advancement of transit initiatives and the resolution of existing barriers to joint collaboration. This meeting followed earlier discussions between Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Farzaneh Sadegh, and Turkiye’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure. In line with the agreement to boost transport ties and transit between the two nations, the first meeting of the Joint Transport Committee, co-chaired by H.E. Saeed Rasouli, Deputy Minister of Transport of Iran, and Dormush Envar, Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructures of Turkiye, was held via video conference.
Key Discussion Points
The meeting focused on maximizing cooperation across road, rail, port, and air transport sectors, fostering transit growth and addressing barriers to transport collaboration.
Topics included:
• Regulatory issues: Discussion on duties, taxes and restrictions impacting Iranian and Turkish fleets within each country’s territory, as well as addressing limitations on Iranian fleet operations at shared borders and fuel pricing for Turkish fleets in Iran.
• Rail connectivity: Evaluation of the Tehran-Van passenger train and exploring the potential extension of the route to Ankara and Istanbul, alongside efforts to improve freight operations, increase rail transport volume and resolve issues related to idle wagons.
• Logistical developments: Progress on the Iran-Turkiye rail link at the Cheshme Soraya - Dil Ejo junction and the reconstruction of the Bazargan-Gorbulak border crossing, alongside discussions on road infrastructure leading to Turkish borders and the establishment of a new border crossing at Kozehrash.
• Air and maritime cooperation: Strengthening aviation relations, increasing flights, and exploring port and maritime investment opportunities were also highlighted.
It was agreed that an in-person meeting of the Iran-Turkiye Joint Transport Committee would be held after the holy month of Ramadan, either in Tehran or Ankara.
Transit as a Strategic Pillar and Modernizing Infrastructure
Deputy Minister Rasouli underscored the strategic importance of transit within the southern Caspian Sea corridor connecting China to Europe, as well as the role of Iran and Turkiye as critical transit hubs in the region. He stressed that transit will remain a central focus in future discussions between their Excellences the Ministers of both nations.
Dormush Envar, Turkiye’s Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, reiterated Turkiye’s readiness to develop transport and expand transit partnerships. He stressed the importance of modernizing infrastructure and implementing the Iran-Turkiye rail connection project in the Cheshme Soraya region to enhance bilateral transit.
Growth in Trade and Transit
Resuming the meeting, MohammadHossein Habibollahzadeh, Iran’s honorable Ambassador to Turkiye, highlighted the significant growth in bilateral trade. He reported that trade measure between the two countries, which stood at 11.8 billion USD last year, had surpassed 17.5 billion by February and is projected to reach 19 billion USD by year’s end.
Habibollahzadeh noted a 7 billion USD increase in transit and transport measure this year, however stressed the need for substantial infrastructure upgrades across rail, air, maritime and port sectors to support this growth.
Expanding Border Crossings and Flight Routes and Commitment to Enhanced Cooperation
The Ambassador also pointed to heavy traffic between the two countries, with 6 million passengers and approximately 330,000 trucks traveling between Iran and Turkiye last year. To accommodate this demand, it was decided to increase the number of border crossings from three to five. Additionally, expanding rail networks and increasing flight frequency were identified as priorities.
Habibollahzadeh expressed optimism about the swift organization of the mee
