Maritime Trade to Resume as UAE to Let in Iranian Vessels, Official Says

Maritime trade between Iran and the United Arab Emirates is set to resume after the Arab nation announced its readiness to let in Iranian vessels, an official said on Sunday as the first Chinese cargo ship docked in the Chabahar Free Zone following the lifting of a US blockade on Iranian ports. Head of Bushehr’s Chamber of Commerce Khorshid Gazderazi said the UAE’s decision followed the end of conflicts in the region. “It is expected that with the resumption of operations at UAE ports, maritime trade in Bushehr Province will gradually return to normal,” Gazdarazi said in remarks carried by ILNA.

Iran has in recent years conducted a significant portion of its imports through the UAE’s Jebel Ali port, which has historically served as a key commercial hub for the country. However, following recent disruptions in trade, regional ports in Pakistan, India, Oman, and Iraq emerged as alternatives, with Iranian cargo and logistics operations redirected there, though at higher cost. Iran’s southern ports were under a 66-day naval blockade imposed by the United States on April 13. “Given the UAE’s position as a regional economic hub and its significant share in foreign trade with Iran, especially Bushehr Province, in exports and imports, the imposed restrictions posed serious challenges for merchants and economic actors in the province,” Gazderazi said. The local chamber chief said that about 90% of maritime trade activity in southern Iran, including Bushehr Province, had come to a halt or faced severe slowdown during the US-Israeli war on Iran. “During this period, numerous consultations were held to establish alternative trade routes, including pursuing a transshipment route through Iraq’s Umm Qasr port and Oman.” The resumption of maritime commercial activity would not only boost trade exchanges but also allow about 2,000 vessels and 14,000 sailors to return to work, he added.

First Chinese vessel docks at Chabahar

In a separate development, the first Chinese commercial vessel carrying cargo for businesspeople in the Chabahar Free Zone docked on Friday after the end of the naval restrictions, according to the head of the zone’s organization. Mohammad Saeid Arbabi said the ship, carrying 409 containers, docked at Chabahar’s Shahid Kalantari port. “This marks a turning point in the restoration of the country’s economic strength and the revival of international trade routes,” Arbabi said, according to Mehr News Agency. The cargo included spare parts for light and heavy vehicles, household appliances including air conditioners, refrigerators and washing machines, sanitary equipment, drilling equipment and machinery, chemicals for the textile industry, steel pipes and fittings, solar panels, safety footwear, plywood, paper and fabric, he said. Arbabi added that Chabahar could become Iran’s most important trade gateway to countries along the Indian Ocean, particularly in East Africa, East and Southeast Asia, the Persian Gulf states, Central Asia and international markets in the post-war period. “The port’s unique logistics and transit capacities provide a rare opportunity for the country’s economic growth,” he pointed out. The official also said talks have begun with international maritime transport companies and logistics operators, with the goal of transforming Chabahar into a maritime trade hub and distribution center on the strategic Makoran coast along the northern Indian Ocean. He said efforts to attract domestic and foreign investment and develop smart logistics and port infrastructure would be pursued seriously. - Iran Daily