Iran to Reopen its Border to Afghan Oil Tankers

Iranian officicials have promised to lift the blockade on Afghan oil tankers stopped on the other side of border for weeks, Ministry of Commerce and Industries said on Sunday

The Afghan Minister of Commerce and Industries, Anwarulhaq Ahadi, who is currently on a visit in Iran said that ten oil tankers have been allowed to enter Afghanistan so far.

He said Iranian officials have promised to let all the 2,000 oil tankers to cross the border in the next two days.

"During separate meeting with the Iranian President and Vice President, we were promised that the border will be opened to Afghan oil tankers and the process will start before the Afghan delegation leaves Iran," Mr Ahmadi told TOLOnews.

"According to the information we received from Islam Qala border in Herat, ten tankers have so far been allowed to cross the border," he added.

Recently 2,000 oil tankers bound for Afghanistan were stopped on the Iranian border, which caused an increase in oil prices.

The Afghan government sent a delegation to Iran on Saturday including Vice President Marsial Mohammad Qasim Fahim and the Afghan Minister of Commerce and Industries Anwarulhaq Ahadi to discuss the issue with the Iranian authorities.

During a meeting with Marsial Qasim Fahim, Iranian authorities have reportedly expressed their support to Afghanistan in different areas.

Afghanistan buys its needed oil from UAE, Iraq, Turkmenistan and Turkey which is transported to the country through Iran.