Kazakhstan to Invest in Iranian Port
The Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development and the Managing Director of Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization announced that several neighboring countries have expressed interest in investing in Iranian ports, particularly in the field of transit. He said that Kazakhstan will soon sign an investment agreement for Shahid Rajaee Port.
Speaking to an IRNA reporter on Tuesday during a press conference held on the sidelines of the International Summit of Governors of Caspian Littoral States in Rasht, Saeid Rasouli said:
“Today, this summit was held in Rasht at the initiative of the Islamic Republic of Iran, with the participation of the Foreign Minister, the Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, the governors of coastal provinces including Hormozgan and Sistan-Baluchestan, and many local, national, and international officials.”
He added that the Ports and Maritime Organization is taking the opportunity to pursue bilateral and multilateral cooperation with Caspian neighbors during this summit. “In terms of transit, the Islamic Republic of Iran offers a strategic corridor that provides Central Asian countries with access to open waters and the Persian Gulf.”
Rasouli emphasized that Iran’s northern ports currently operate with a capacity of over 30 million tons. He noted that a recent meeting was held in Makhachkala to form a Caspian Sea maritime consortium with the participation of Russia and Iran.
He continued: “Several neighboring countries have shown interest in investing in our ports. Soon, we will witness the signing of Kazakhstan’s investment agreement at Shahid Rajaee Port, and we are also in negotiations with several other countries.”
Rasouli stated that Iran’s coastal border stretches approximately 5,800 kilometers. “In the Caspian Sea, we hold the second-largest fleet after Russia, significantly ahead of neighboring countries in terms of fleet size. Therefore, we must make maximum use of current capacities, existing investments, and our ongoing development programs.”
The Managing Director of the Ports and Maritime Organization said that declining water levels in the Caspian Sea in recent years pose a threat to the depth of Iran’s coasts and commercial docks. “One of our important cooperation topics with neighboring Caspian states is managing this phenomenon. We are holding continuous expert-level and managerial meetings with our Caspian partners to address this challenge while expanding our collaborative capacities.”
The first summit of governors from the coastal provinces of Caspian littoral states, held under the slogan “Caspian Sea: A Bridge of Friendship and Regional Development,” began this morning (Tuesday, November 17, 2025) in Rasht with the presence of high-ranking Iranian and foreign officials.
According to IRNA, the two-day summit—hosted by Iran—aims to strengthen regional cooperation, boost economic interaction, and enhance coordination on sustainable development and environmental protection in the world’s largest enclosed body of water. Delegations from nine foreign regions and five Iranian provinces are participating.
The summit will continue on Tuesday and Wednesday, November 17 and 18, focusing on strengthening regional cooperation, expanding economic, cultural, and tourism links, and fostering synergy among the coastal provinces of the five Caspian littoral states. - Iran News
23/11/2025
Afghanistan Urges India to Scale Up Trade, Expand Use of Iran's Chabahar Port
Afghanistan’s Taliban government urged India on Thursday to scale up trade and open cargo hubs in its territory, as it strengthens ties with New Delhi and seeks alternatives to Pakistan after repeated border clashes and closures.
During talks, Al-Haj Nooruddin Azizi, the Taliban’s commerce minister, also asked India to help set up scheduled shipping services to move Afghan goods through the Indian-operated Chabahar Port in Iran, his ministry said.
Landlocked Afghanistan has redirected more goods to Iran and Central Asia in recent months after armed clashes shut key crossings with Pakistan.
Azizi met India’s Minister of State for Commerce, Jitin Prasada, in New Delhi and discussed investment, joint ventures and expanding opportunities for Afghan exporters, the Afghan commerce ministry said. Azizi also suggested India develop dry ports in Afghanistan’s southwestern Nimroz province bordering Iran, and ease cargo processing at Nhava Sheva, India’s largest container port near Mumbai, the ministry added.
Afghan officials told Reuters last week that shipments have been growing faster through Iran and Central Asia than through the Pakistan corridor as repeated border closures disrupt its main transit route. Azizi sought to speed up the process for Afghan traders getting visas and proposed cooperation in pharmaceuticals, cold storage, fruit processing, industrial parks and SME centres, his ministry said.
India’s Prasada said on X that the talks reflected a shared commitment to strengthening bilateral trade. Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said he discussed expanding trade and connectivity and reiterated India’s support for Afghanistan’s development. - Money Control
23/11/2025
Iran Expands Economic Ties with Afghanistan
Senior representatives from Iran’s Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) and multiple Afghan economic bodies signed a series of cooperation agreements during a high-level visit to Kabul and the Imam Abu Hanifa International Exhibition, signaling a broad effort to expand trade, investment and technical collaboration across mining, agriculture, energy and healthcare.
At the exhibition’s second day, ICCIMA Deputy Head Qadir Qiyafeh and Karim Hashemi, head of Afghanistan’s Chamber of Commerce and Investment, signed a cooperation agreement aimed at raising bilateral trade and strengthening institutional ties between the two chambers.
A separate agreement valued at US$100 million was concluded between Mohammad Reza Salehi, head of Iran’s Energy Federation, and Habibi, chairman of Afghanistan’s Union of Construction Companies, covering a five-year cooperation framework. Another deal was signed to construct a 100-megawatt solar power plant worth US$40 million by an Iranian energy developer.
Plans for a cross-border mineral processing hub
During his visit to Afghanistan, Qiyafeh met the country’s Minister of Mines and Petroleum, Hedayatullah Badri, where both sides discussed a proposal to establish a joint processing center at the border to refine Afghan minerals using Iranian technology and expertise.
The ICCIMA deputy head said Afghanistan’s vast mineral reserves require high-level exploration and modern processing capabilities to unlock value.
He said Iranian companies possess long-standing industrial expertise, particularly in steel and mining technologies, which could be transferred to Afghan partners.
Qiyafeh proposed creating a joint mining committee between private-sector operators from both countries to coordinate exploration, investment planning and long-term strategy. He also highlighted the need for reliable electricity supply for processing activities and said Iran was ready to participate in power-generation projects linked to the mining sector.
Badri welcomed the proposals, saying Kabul aims to deepen cooperation with Tehran under previous understandings reached with Iran’s Ministry of Industry, Mining and Trade. He said Afghanistan prefers to keep extraction and processing inside its borders but is open to structured collaboration that brings investment, technology and skilled training.
Financial mechanisms, electricity supply discussed to support industrial expansion
In another meeting with board members of Afghanistan’s Chamber of Industry and Mines, Qiyafeh said both sides must address financial channels for transferring funds, border challenges and customs constraints to support investment flow.
Afghan representatives urged Iranian companies to increase their presence, noting strong competition from firms in China, Turkey and Uzbekistan. They also asked for improved border logistics, faster customs procedures and specialized training programs in Iran for Afghan businesses.
Qiyafeh said Iran has started revising its economic approach toward Afghanistan and emphasized that the joint chamber has become an active platform linking the Afghan private sector with Iranian decision-makers. He reiterated that Afghanistan’s mining sector needs a clear long-term strategy and reliable electricity supply — areas where Iran can play a key role.
Afghanistan’s chamber head, Ahmad Nabizadah, pointed to significant mineral reserves near the Iranian border and said cooperation could accelerate if both sides adopt a focused priority and ensure that agreements are implemented rather than repeated.
He also raised concerns about the movement of Afghan trucks on Iranian roads and called for streamlined procedures to support two-way industrial activity.
Agricultural cooperation seen as key to balancing bilateral trade
In a separate meeting with Afghanistan’s Chamber of Agriculture, Iranian officials emphasized contract farming as the most effective tool to create balanced trade between the two neighbors.
Qiyafeh said Afghanistan’s fertile land, rural workforce and strong agricultural base could help increase its exports to Iran, narrowing the trade gap that currently favors Tehran. He encouraged Kabul to focus on producing crops in demand in Iran, supported by modern irrigation methods and improved farming efficiency.
Iran–Afghanistan Joint Chamber chairman Mahmoud Siyahat said Afghanistan is not yet industrialized and faces regulatory obstacles in mining, making agriculture the most realistic sector for balancing trade.
He outlined a contract-farming proposal in which Afghanistan provides land, Iranian partners supply seeds, inputs and technology, and Afghan farmers produce crops needed by the Iranian market. He identified sugar beet, oilseeds, cotton, meat, livestock and legumes as priority items.
Afghan agriculture chief Khan Mohammad Foroutan said his chamber stands ready to manage coordination between farmers and investors in both countries and highlighted the need for agreements on standards, quarantine processes and transit arrangements.
Tehran seeks healthcare investment partnerships with Kabul
Iran also proposed expanding cooperation in healthcare, including building joint hospitals in Afghan cities and creating shared pharmaceutical and medical-equipment production lines.
During a meeting with Afghanistan’s deputy minister of health, Qiyafeh said Iranian private-sector actors have already established low-cost medical facilities in Iran for traders and could replicate this model in Kabul or other Afghan cities through joint investment.
He pointed to Iran’s strong pharmaceutical manufacturing sector, with companies exporting to Europe and Asia, and urged Kabul to streamline Afghanistan’s drug-registration procedures, which Iranian firms say are slow and complex.
Iranian officials recommended drafting a joint investment roadmap for producing medicines and medical equipment inside Afghanistan, arguing that structured cooperation would improve supply, reduce counterfeit drugs and support long-term health sector development.
Afghanistan’s deputy minister said Kabul has reduced its reliance on Pakistan — previously the main supplier of medicines — and now seeks to source pharmaceutical needs from Iran. He said the Afghan market is open to structured Iranian investment and regulatory cooperation. - Tehran Times
23/11/2025
No Current Problems in Selling Oil: Iran's Oil Minister
Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad said Iran is not facing any problems selling its oil and has prepared contingency plans should restrictions tighten.
“We have no concerns at the moment,” he said Wednesday on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting. “I cannot disclose what measures we have taken, but we have plans for any situation. We have dealt with such restrictions for years. Sometimes they intensify, and sometimes conditions are more flexible. We are prepared for all scenarios. There is no cause for worry.”
Paknejad dismissed claims from some Western sources that Iran is selling oil to China in exchange for fighter jets. “Western sources make many such allegations,” he said.
Gasoline Policies Will Not Burden the Public
Paknejad said a working group composed of multiple government bodies has been formed to study options for managing gasoline consumption and reducing imports. Any decision, he said, will be issued only after expert review and approval by governing bodies.
“None of these measures should create hardship or restrictions for the public,” he said.
He added that speculation about gasoline policy has been circulating in the media for some time. “No action will be taken that puts our people under pressure. That is a core principle of the government. So far, the discussions show that the public’s gasoline quota — both in volume and price — will not change. Other issues are still under expert review and will be announced once finalized.”
Paknejad said setting gasoline prices is beyond the Oil Ministry’s authority. Still, he noted that gasoline imports have reached levels that “are becoming somewhat burdensome” for the national budget. “We must find solutions, but none should place restrictions on the public.”
On the possibility of introducing a third gasoline price tier, he said the priority is reducing consumption. “A large share of national resources is currently spent on gasoline imports. We need to take efficiency measures. Initial steps may be nonpricing solutions, but the working groups will determine the final approach.”
Imported Premium Gasoline to Be Offered on Energy Exchange Next Week
Paknejad said imported premium gasoline will be offered on the Iran Energy Exchange next week. “The private sector imports this fuel and will sell it based on its cost for those who wish to use it. The base price will differ.”
He said the private sector is responsible for imports under the government-approved legal framework and related regulations. “The base price set on the exchange is slightly above IRR 650,000 (58 cents). Additional costs such as transport, distribution and legal fees may apply and will be clarified at the time of sale.”
Significant Reduction in Flare Gas
Paknejad said flare-gas collection has reached “a considerable level” over the past year. Twelve new contracts for flare-gas collection were recently signed in the presence of the president, and are expected to come online within 18 months.
“The government is strongly committed to this issue, and the president is personally following it,” he said, noting that projects include long-term NGL plant construction and short-term private-sector engagements to utilize flare gas.
He dismissed claims that gasoline stations receive a share of subsidized fuel. “That is incorrect. Their service fee is defined, and to my recollection it is IRR 6,500 (0.58 cent) per liter.”
Fuel Reserves for Power Plants in Good Condition
Paknejad said Iran is well-prepared for winter. “This year, based on lessons learned from last year, our power-plant fuel reserves are in very good condition. When we took office last year, reserves — especially for power plants — were low, but we managed the situation and passed the winter.”
He said about 3.3 billion liters of liquid fuel have been stored this year — nearly double last year’s amount. “We filled the storage to the maximum capacity of the power-plant tanks, and we are holding additional volumes in distribution depots. If gas supplies to power plants need to be limited or managed, we will face fewer challenges thanks to this liquid fuel.”
Claims of Misuse of Subsidized Fuel Must Be Legally Reviewed
Responding to questions about allegations involving the Ahdaf Holding and a reported dismissal order for one of its managers, Paknejad said he has not received any such notification. “Such rulings must be formally communicated through legal channels before we are obliged to act. If oversight bodies officially notify us, we will follow the law.”
On agricultural fuel quotas, he said decisions are made by a committee led by the Headquarters for Combating Smuggling of Goods and Currency, based on cultivated area and crop patterns. “If the committee reaches a conclusion, we implement it. If not, we do nothing. The Oil Ministry does not set agricultural fuel quotas; it only executes the decisions.”
He said allegations that some shrimp farms sell subsidized fuel must be examined. “We cannot target members of various sectors with accusations without proper review. The judiciary and its enforcement bodies must investigate and issue their findings.” - Shana
23/11/2025
Iran Releases Tanker Talara, All 21 Crew Safe
Iran released the Marshall Islands-flagged product tanker Talara on Wednesday, the vessel's manager Columbia Shipmanagement said in a statement, adding that the entire 21-member crew were safe.
"We have informed their families, and the vessel is now free to resume normal operations," the manager said.
Tehran had no immediate comment on the release of the Talara, which marked the first ship seizure by Iran in months.
Cyprus-based Columbia Shipmanagement said that “no allegations were made against the vessel, her crew and the vessel’s managers and owners.”
On Friday, Iran's military seized the vessel as it traveled through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20% of all oil traded passes. The ship had been traveling from Ajman, United Arab Emirates, onward to Singapore.
The US Navy has blamed Iran for a series of limpet mine attacks on vessels that damaged tankers in 2019, as well as for a fatal drone attack on an Israeli-linked oil tanker that killed two European crew members in 2021. Those attacks began after US President Donald Trump in his first term in office unilaterally withdrew from Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.
In May 2022, Iran took two Greek tankers and held them until November of that year. Iran seized the Portuguese-flagged cargo ship MSC Aries in April 2024.
Those attacks found themselves subsumed by the Iranian-backed Houthis assaults targeting ships during the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip, which drastically reduced shipping in the crucial Red Sea corridor. - MSN
23/11/2025