[47957] Iran tightens ties with Pakistan: A new land trade route as a substitute for UAE ports

Iran launches a land trade axis through Pakistan in response to maritime pressures

In a significant strategic move, several Iranian media outlets, including کانال اخبار سپاه پاسداران (identified with the Revolutionary Guards) and آخرین خبر, announced that Pakistan has officially approved the operation of a transport corridor that will connect its ports to Iran. According to the reports, the Pakistani Ministry of Commerce's decision authorizes the transit of goods from third-party countries through Pakistan to destinations within Iran, using the ports of Gwadar, Karachi, and Bandar Qasim, and from there through the Gabad and Taftan border crossings.

The reports emphasize that this is the result of years of "diplomatic effort" on the part of Tehran. Channels identified with the Iranian government, such as حامیان پزشکیان, present the move as a necessary response to geopolitical changes in the region. According to خبر فوری جنگ ایران, the current maritime route through UAE ports – led by Jebel Ali Port – has become "unstable" due to the "intensifying maritime blockade" imposed on Iran.

Transport experts cited in the reports note that the connection to Pakistani ports does not only bypass the Emirates, but also integrates into the $60 billion "China-Pakistan Economic Corridor" (CPEC) and the "Belt and Road Initiative" (BRI). The channel خبرفوری جنگ notes that the diversification of supply routes is intended to "strengthen the security of Iran's supply chain," while reducing costs and improving the speed of cargo transport during a period of increasing international pressure.