Mehran border crossing records sharp rise in Iran-Iraq trade volumes

TEHRAN, Iran — TEHRAN — The Mehran border crossing, one of Iran's main land gateways to Iraq, recorded an unprecedented increase in cargo handling during the first two months of the Iranian fiscal year, according to data from Iran's Ministry of Roads and Urban Development. Haydar Dashtipour, director general of roads and land transport in Ilam Province, said simplified administrative and customs procedures helped the crossing reach record levels. Officials said loading and unloading areas handled 1,184 trucks and 26,165 tons of goods by hand, with vehicle numbers up 117 percent and tonnage up 158 percent compared with the same period last year. The transit zone moved 11,504 trucks carrying more than 311,000 tons of cargo, while direct transport accounted for 964 trucks and 15,528 tons of goods dispatched into Iraq, with transit volume reaching 12,058 tons. Dashtipour said Mehran's short geographic distance and strong security profile make it one of Iran's most critical corridors for exports and transit traffic to Iraq. Authorities said they are working to reduce truck waiting times and upgrade logistics infrastructure to support the higher traffic. The surge in cross-border activity comes as Tehran seeks to diversify its external trade under international sanctions, positioning land routes to neighboring Iraq as a strategic channel for commercial flows.