Iran-Afghanistan Rail Trade Sees 17-Fold Increase
According to an official from the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways (RAI), rail trade exchanges between Iran and Afghanistan have experienced a significant surge, registering a 17-fold increase during the first 11 months of the current Iranian calendar year, which began on March 21.
Iran and Afghanistan have experienced a significant increase in trade and transit activities via rail, as reported by Shahria Naghizadeh, the Director General of Foreign Trade Affairs at the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways. This surge marks a notable rise compared to the corresponding period from the previous year.
Approximately 650,000 tons of goods have been transported from Iran to Afghanistan via rail from March 21, 2025, to February 22, 2026, with plans to increase this capacity to 750,000 tons by the end of the year, he highlighted.
Rail connections between the two neighboring countries have gained significant importance as Afghanistan looks for alternative trade routes and more economical import options, Naghizadeh emphasized.
The head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways recently announced that between December 21, 2025, and January 22, 2026, 70,000 tons of cargo were transported from Iran to Afghanistan by rail. This volume increased to over 100,000 tons between January 22 and February 22, 2026.
