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He pointed to the high volume of re-exports from Dubai’s ports, noting that the UAE generates over $180 billion annually through re-exports by shipping goods from various regions worldwide to other countries via its ports. “This is while Chabahar offers better conditions for transit and re-export due to its oceanic location and closer proximity to many export destinations,” he said.
Bajarzehi explained that Chabahar, located on the Makoran coast near the Indian Ocean, provides access to Africa and Europe, making it a strategic hub for trade. Several of Iran’s landlocked neighboring countries in the region and Central Asia can use Chabahar to engage in global trade.
“Afghanistan has expressed readiness to use Chabahar Port for transit, with the potential to move hundreds of containers and trucks daily to meet the country’s needs. This could generate at least $5 billion annually for Iran as Chabahar is not subject to sanctions for transporting goods to Afghanistan. Currently, Afghanistan sources its goods through Pakistan’s Gwadar Port, but Afghan officials prefer using Iran and Chabahar.”
Bajarzehi also noted Russia’s strong interest in using Chabahar Port and the North-South Corridor for transit. “If the railway along this corridor is completed,” the MP maintained, “Russia could transport 100 million tons of coal annually to Africa, Europe, and other regions, generating at least $5 billion in annual revenue for Iran.”
Russia has proposed constructing a railway within Iran along the North-South Corridor within two years. This would allow Russia to transport grain, coal, and other goods to Chabahar for global export. While Iran has already begun constructing a railway along this corridor, it has yet to become operational. Russia prefers to use its wider-gauge railway for this route.
“Last year, approximately 30,000 trucks transported goods from Chabahar Port and the Rimdan border to Pakistan, a number that could increase to 50,000 in the short term. Despite subpar road conditions and customs facilities at the Rimdan border, improving infrastructure could enable Iran to extend transit routes to China via Pakistan.”
Bajarzehi emphasized that if the necessary commercial, economic, and industrial infrastructure is developed in Chabahar, major industries such as automotive manufacturing could establish operations in the region, with related industries also producing and exporting goods from Chabahar to target markets.
He identified complex administrative bureaucracy as a major obstacle to exports from Chabahar, describing it as a form of “self-imposed sanction” that complicates trade. “Simplifying these processes is essential to facilitate business,” the lawmaker stressed.