The Taliban’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce said it has held talks with an Iranian delegation aimed at boosting annual trade between the two sides to $10 billion.

The ministry said in a statement Wednesday that Taliban commerce minister Nooruddin Azizi met in Kabul with Mohammad Atabak, Iran’s minister of industry, mining and trade, and his delegation to discuss expanding trade ties and easing transit.

According to the statement, the two sides discussed signing trade and investment agreements, addressing customs and non-tariff barriers, and lifting restrictions at border crossings. They also highlighted the need to resolve transit challenges for Afghan goods at the Milak, Dogharoon, Chabahar and Bandar Abbas crossings.
Taliban officials asked for regular meetings of the joint economic committee, the reactivation of the joint commission, and solutions to banking problems affecting cross-border trade.

Atabak, leading the Iranian delegation, has so far met with several Taliban officials. The visit was described as focused on expanding bilateral trade, improving transit facilities and strengthening joint investment projects.

Although Tehran does not formally recognise the Taliban administration, Iran is its largest trading partner. Current trade between the two countries exceeds $3 billion annually, according to Mohammadreza Modoudi, head of the Dogharoon Free Trade and Industrial Zone.