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Tajikistan, Iran and Afghanistan have agreed to establish a new regional transport corridor that will connect Iranian and Tajik markets through Afghan territory.

Representatives of the three countries’ transport authorities signed the agreement in Mashhad, Iran, according to the Iranian news agency IRNA.

The new route is expected to enable more efficient movement of goods between Iran and Tajikistan, creating an additional overland connection between the Middle East and Central Asia. The first shipment under the new corridor is expected to be launched within a month.

Although specific delivery times and operational details have not yet been announced, the agreement marks another step toward strengthening regional trade links and expanding transit opportunities across Central Asia.

The development comes as Tajikistan continues to modernize its transport procedures. In early summer 2026, the country introduced the e-Permit electronic permit system, with the first 100 electronic transport permits issued to Uzbek carriers.

The new digital tools, combined with the emerging Iran–Afghanistan–Tajikistan corridor, could help improve cross-border transport efficiency, reduce administrative barriers and create new opportunities for logistics companies operating in the region.

For Central Asian traders and carriers, the corridor represents a potential new route to diversify supply chains and improve connectivity with Iranian ports and international markets.

Kazakhstan and Iran have signed an investment agreement for the construction of a logistics center at Shahid Rajaee Port in Bandar Abbas, located on the northern shore of the Strait of Hormuz.

The facility is expected to be built in the port’s rear area on a site of around 15 hectares, with total investment estimated at $25 million.

According to Iranian port officials, the project is being developed with a strong focus on rail-based cargo transport and will include a specialized rail terminal. It is expected to operate as part of a broader chain of logistics hubs linking Kazakhstan, Shahid Rajaee Port, and other shipping points in order to strengthen regional transit flows.

The agreement is valid for 27 years, including two years for construction, with terms to be reviewed every five years. The future logistics center is expected to handle around 1.5 million tons of cargo.

The project reflects Kazakhstan’s broader strategy to expand its transport and transit access through Iran and to create additional infrastructure for handling both domestic and Central Asian cargo flows.

China and Tajikistan have agreed to prepare a feasibility study for the reconstruction of infrastructure at the Kulma / Karasu border crossing. The cost of this stage is estimated at 1.42 million yuan, and according to available information, it will be covered by the Chinese side.

Tajikistan, for its part, is expected to ensure the safety of Chinese specialists and simplify import and export procedures for equipment needed to implement the project.

The exact facilities and infrastructure elements to be upgraded have not yet been officially disclosed. However, the project is strategically important: Kulma / Karasu is the only land border crossing between China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and Tajikistan’s Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region.

The crossing has been operating since 2004, and since 2016 it has functioned year-round. Plans for modernization were already being discussed in 2023, including in connection with road repairs on the Tajik side. According to Tajikistan’s Ministry of Transport, 472,800 tons of cargo passed through the checkpoint in 2023.

For the region, this is more than an infrastructure upgrade — it is a step toward stronger transport connectivity between China and Central Asia.