Iran is increasingly shifting trade from maritime routes to land borders as restrictions on access to its southern ports disrupt imports. The change is putting growing pressure on border crossings with neighbouring countries, particularly the main crossing with Turkiye, where truck queues now stretch for kilometres and delays can last days or even weeks. Truck drivers say journeys that once took a day can now take a week, while some report making only one or two trips every several weeks. Iran’s customs authority says imports through the Gurbulak crossing rose 250 percent in the five months to August. Before the war, more than 80 percent of Iran’s trade moved through its southern ports, but maritime restrictions are forcing Tehran to rely more heavily on road and rail links. Iran and Turkiye are working to ease congestion, but limited land capacity and higher transport costs are adding pressure on businesses and consumers.
Al Jazeera’s Sinem Koseoglu reports from Tehran.
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