Trade between Afghanistan and Iran has significantly increased in the past five years, reaching three billion dollars. This increase primarily includes Iran's exports to Afghanistan, and officials from the Taliban and Iran plan to raise the trade volume between the two countries to 10 billion dollars.
Iranian Delegation's Visit to Kabul
A delegation from the Iranian Parliament, led by Mohsen Zanganeh, head of the Special Commission for Support of Production, has traveled to Kabul and discussed increasing trade exchanges between the two countries with Nooruddin Azizi, the Taliban Minister of Industry and Commerce. Although there was no specific timeline mentioned for achieving the 10 billion dollar goal, reports indicate that both sides are pursuing this objective over a three-year period.
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Border Facilities and Joint Programs
Iran has provided some border facilities to facilitate trade with Afghanistan, and officials from this country have announced that part of the border activities with Afghanistan will be conducted 24 hours a day. In this context, both sides have discussed joint industrial programs, the establishment of a special industrial park in Afghanistan, the development of cooperation through Chabahar Port, the establishment of a petroleum refinery, and increasing trade volume to 10 billion dollars.
Statistics show that Iran's exports to Afghanistan have increased from one billion and 32 million dollars in 2021 to three billion and 668 million dollars in 2025. Currently, Afghanistan conducts most of its imports from Iran, with exported goods including oil and gas, construction materials, carpets, food items, electronics, and detergents.
Trade Deficit and Challenges of Afghan Exports
The trade deficit in relations between Iran and Afghanistan is significantly evident. According to statistics from the Statistics Office, Afghanistan exported only 52 million dollars to Iran in 2025, indicating a trade deficit in favor of Iran. Afghanistan's exported items to Iran include cotton, onions, figs, saffron, beverages, medicinal plants, and minerals.
Mohsen Zanganeh mentioned at an exhibition in Kabul that Afghanistan's exports to Iran are not limited to goods, and the employment of Afghan workers in Iran is also considered as part of Afghanistan's export services. Given the border situation and existing blockages, Afghanistan's exports to Iran have decreased in the past year.
Economic Impacts and Future of Trade
Despite Iran increasing its trade with Afghanistan, the country is under severe economic sanctions from the United States and the West. It seems that since Afghanistan, under Taliban control, is less affected by sanctions, this presents a suitable opportunity for enhancing trade relations between the two countries. The closure of Pakistan's borders has also impacted the trade situation between the two countries, leading to changes in trade routes.
Increasing trade with Iran could help supply the necessary goods for the Afghan market; however, given the inflationary situation in Iran, it is likely that Iranian goods will enter the Afghan market at higher prices compared to Pakistani goods.
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