BAKU, Azerbaijan, September
29. Iran has the capacity to export
300,000-400,000 barrels of crude oil daily via rail and road
networks.
This was stated by a member of the Iranian Parliament's
Presiding Board, Meysam Zohurian, during his address.
"Initiating crude oil exports via rail and road could pave the
way for the development of non-maritime routes and, subsequently,
the construction of pipelines, given their economic viability," he
noted.
Zohurian stated that following the imposition of a maritime
blockade against Iran, consultations and the activation of new
routes have led to a significant -10% - increase in rail freight
transport from China to Iran. While these routes may not serve as a
complete substitute for maritime shipping, they could enable Iran
to substantially maintain its foreign trade during emergency
situations.
Zohurian pointed out that the primary challenge in rail freight
transport is the unidirectional flow of cargo; the bulk of the
freight consists of imports into Iran, and in some instances,
trains return empty. The solution to this issue is to strengthen
rail-based exports. Strengthening rail exports can also reduce
freight transport costs.
Meanwhile, as a result of the ongoing conflict between Iran and
the U.S. regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's import and export
of goods through the strait have sharply declined. To counter this,
Iran is striving to maintain trade volumes with neighboring
countries via road and rail networks.
