Recent visits to three of Iran’s main border crossings have uncovered bottlenecks – but also clear opportunities to speed up trade.
IRU, together with its member ICCIMA, has visited three major Iranian border crossings neighbouring Türkiye and Azerbaijan – Bazargan (Iran–Türkiye), Astara (Iran–Azerbaijan) and Bilesavar (Iran–Azerbaijan) – located along the two main north–south and east–west transport corridors.
The visits focused on evaluating current infrastructure and customs procedures to identify potential areas for improvement through the tried-and-tested TIR system.
During the visits, customs authorities, the Road Maintenance and Transport Organisation, local chambers of commerce, and local transport associations highlighted the significant security and efficiency benefits of TIR – supporting its expansion.
The participants agreed to:
- Establish TIR green lanes to enable TIR trucks to cross borders even more efficiently
- Facilitate operators’ access to TIR, including by distributing TIR carnets at border crossings
- Enhance access to TIR carnets by turning Ardabil’s chamber of commerce into a TIR distribution office
Free zone
To boost efficiency and security at the Bazargan border, ICCIMA and the Maku Free Zone have signed an agreement to jointly revamp logistics services and facilitate the movement of secure cargo under TIR. IRU will support this process.
Geographically, the Maku Free Zone covers Maku, Shout, Poldasht and the border city of Bazargan, accounting for about 75% of Iran's total free zone area. This area is located adjacent to Türkiye and Azerbaijan (Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic). The Free Zone is strategically positioned along the east–west corridor, where most of the trade between Iran and Europe is carried out.
The collaborative efforts between IRU, ICCIMA and local stakeholders mark a pivotal step towards streamlining Iran’s border operations and unlocking the full potential of regional trade corridors.
By embracing the TIR system and committing to tangible improvements, from green lanes to expanded carnet access, Iran is positioning itself as a more agile and secure gateway for international commerce.
