Astara Port revives as first vessel docks after dredging
The first commercial vessel in the new year, starting on March 21, docked at Iran's Astara Port after dredging operations restored access to the northern port, a development authorities said could help revive the region's trade and transit capacity.
According to Fars news agency, Astara Port, one of Iran's key northern trade gateways and a strategic link in the International North-South Transport Corridor, plays an important role in expanding the country's economic exchanges with Caspian Sea nations.
Ali Darmani, governor of Astara, said the vessel carried 1,400 cubic meters of timber weighing about 800 metric tons and had sailed from Hovsan port in Azerbaijan.
Highlighting the border county's transit, export and import potential, Darmani said the vessel's arrival demonstrated that maritime trade at the port could recover with the removal of technical obstacles, particularly sedimentation problems, and the continuation of dredging operations.
The port had faced challenges in recent years due to sediment buildup and restrictions on vessel traffic, resulting in a decline in commercial activity. In the months leading up to the dredging, clearing the port basin and access channel had become a major demand of businesses, traders and local officials.
Following the completion of the dredging work and the restoration of suitable navigation conditions, the first commercial vessel of the year arrived at Astara Port Complex carrying a cargo of timber from Azerbaijan and docked at the port's berth.
The revival of Astara comes as Iran is seeking to diversify its logistics corridors to counter growing restrictions on its trade routes.
The country's southern ports in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman remain under a naval blockade imposed by US President Donald Trump in mid-April. The blockade is aimed at pressuring Tehran into a peace agreement after a 40-day conflict launched by the United States and Israel against Iran on February 28.
According to reports presented by economic officials, coordination with neighboring countries has helped activate and expand capacity at several land border crossings and alternative transport corridors to facilitate imports of essential goods.
Iran also officially launched transit operations at the southern port of Jask with the arrival of the first vehicle shipments from Oman on Sunday. Located on the Gulf of Oman outside the Strait of Hormuz, Jask has emerged as one of Iran's most strategically important ports. The facility serves as the terminus of the Goreh-Jask oil pipeline and forms part of the International North-South Transport Corridor, the multimodal route linking the Indian Ocean with Russia and Northern Europe.