Iran is importing 1,200 tons of essential goods per day through Turkey as part of efforts to secure food supplies amid regional tensions, the agriculture minister said on Sunday.
Minister Gholamreza Nouri Ghezeljeh announced that the route via Turkey has been activated, with daily shipments entering Iran through Mersin Port. He added that transportation links through Central Asia are also set to expand in the coming weeks, further strengthening supply channels.
The minister noted that despite recent attacks targeting some storage facilities for essential goods, Iran’s food security infrastructure remains resilient. He emphasized that coordinated efforts by producers, suppliers, and distributors have helped maintain market stability, with limited price volatility and continued availability of key commodities.
Nouri Ghezeljeh acknowledged that the ongoing regional conflict and disruptions to petrochemical production—particularly urea fertilizer—have contributed to rising global food prices. However, he said Iran had anticipated these challenges and secured sufficient fertilizer supplies, with distribution already underway.
He also revealed that Iran has procured around 11 million tons of corn, equivalent to roughly 12 shiploads, at relatively favorable prices compared to projected costs in the coming months, when higher transportation and war-risk insurance premiums are expected.
The minister pointed to broader logistical efforts, including the use of small-capacity vessels in the Caspian Sea and the activation of maximum regional transit corridor capacities. Plans are also underway to launch a dedicated land and rail transport fleet through the Maku Free Trade Zone on the Turkish border.
Additionally, Nouri Ghezeljeh said trilateral trade exchanges involving Iran, Russia, and China have effectively begun, helping shorten and reduce the cost of transit routes from the Americas. He stressed that key ports, including Imam Khomeini and Chabahar, continue to operate at full capacity to support imports and distribution.
