Iran may use transport corridor through Azerbaijan
By Vusala Abbasova
The current tense situation in Turkey, which is accompanied by an increase in terror attacks and shootings, has significantly complicated transit in and out of the country.
The instability at Turkey’s southeastern border has created barriers for the neighboring countries that use Turkish territory for transportation.
The situation has forced neighboring Iran to search for new routes to Europe, especially after recent tragic events, when a number of Iranian buses were stopped by terrorists on route way to Turkey.
In one incident, the driver was killed by unknown men. There is also evidence that in July, mines were placed along railroads connecting Iran to Turkey inside the Turkish territory.
The Iranian Road Maintenance and Transportation organization has been tasked to search alternative routes to Europe.
Among the possible options of alternative routes to Europe, the organization announced the possibility of transit through Azerbaijan, IRNA quoted the head of the Transit Transport Coordination Council (TTCC) of the Islamic Republic, Abbas Akhoundi, on August 26.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Javad Atrchian, an official with the Iranian Road Maintenance and Transportation Organization, said that the closure of two checkpoints along the Turkish border with Iran would create no problems for trucks and buses.
Turkey has not set a time limit for the closure of the Razi and Sero border checkpoints, as the Bazargan border crossing is still open round the clock, he noted.
Turkey as a very important neighbor for Iran as is Iran for Turkey. Turkey ranks fourth by the volume of products imported to Iran.
Iran imported $3.822 billion worth of goods from Turkey last year (Iranian calendar year begins March 21). During this period, Iran's non-oil exports to Turkey reached $ 2.15 billion. At the same time, Iran exports about 100,000 barrels of crude oil and 27 million cubic meters of gas to Turkey daily.
Moreover, Turkey imported 2.4 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity from Iran last year. In 2014, the trade turnover between Iran and Turkey reached $14 billion. In 2014, the trade turnover between Iran and Turkey reached $14 billion, increasing dramatically from the 2000 trade figure of only $1 billion. Officials of the two countries said that it would reach $30-35 billion in the coming years.
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