Iran Seeks to Triple Trade with Pakistan

Iran's interior minister, visiting Pakistan on Tuesday, said both sides need to expand cross-border transport capacity to meet a US$10 billion trade target.

Iran's interior minister arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday leading a delegation of officials from multiple ministries, saying both countries aim to more than triple annual bilateral trade from US$3 billion to US$10 billion.

Eskandar Momeni said upon arrival that the visit was aimed at developing relations and following up on agreements reached during President Masoud Pezeshkian's trip to Pakistan about one month ago. He was accompanied by representatives from the ministries of oil, agriculture, and roads and urban development.

Momeni said achieving the US$10 billion target would require an average of around 2,000 trucks or containers crossing between the two countries daily, while currently only about 20% of that capacity is being used. "Creating the necessary conditions on both sides of the border will be a main focus of discussions on this trip," he said.

The minister added that regional developments would also be on the agenda. Pakistan has served as the lead mediator between Iran and the United States throughout the current conflict. - Mehr