The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Trend News has reported that officials from Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan have discussed expanding trilateral cooperation on transit and road freight transportation during a meeting held in Mashhad, northeastern Iran.
According to Iran's Ministry of Roads and Urban Development,
the two-day meeting took place in Mashhad, the capital of Razavi Khorasan
Province, on July 14–15, 2026. Officials focused on strengthening cooperation
in road freight transport, activating regional transit corridors, increasing
trade exchanges and expanding broader regional cooperation.
The ministry said the initiative is expected to facilitate
international trade and support sustainable economic development across the
region.
It added that the meeting marked an important step toward
making better use of the three countries' shared transit potential,
strengthening regional ties, enhancing their role in international transport
corridors and advancing transit infrastructure.
According to Trend News' analysis, the trilateral talks
could represent a significant step toward developing new logistics routes
across the region. The report said the cooperation aligns with Iran's broader
strategy of strengthening connectivity with Central Asia and making greater use
of its transit capacity.
Trend News noted that Iran has increased investment in the
International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), Chabahar Port, eastern
border crossings and railway projects in recent years as it seeks to establish
itself as a major regional transit hub. The report added that expanding freight
transport cooperation with Afghanistan and Tajikistan could improve access to
Central Asian markets and contribute to higher transit revenues.
