Iran has exported fuel to Afghanistan by rail for the first time, marking what officials described as a milestone in bilateral economic cooperation.

Alireza Bikdeli, Iran’s ambassador to Kabul, said in a video statement on Wednesday that the inaugural fuel shipment reflects growing trade ties between the two countries.

Mostafa Rezaei, CEO of the Iran–Afghanistan Railway Development Consortium, said the first consignment, 1,120 tonnes of diesel carried in 20 wagons, entered Afghanistan earlier this week via the Khaf–Herat railway line and the Shamtigh border crossing.

Rezaei said the arrival of the train at Rozanak station in Herat province marks the beginning of a new phase in trade and transport cooperation between Iran and Afghanistan. He added that in the initial stage, the consortium is prepared to export more than 30,000 tonnes of fuel per month via the Khaf–Rozanak route.

He said rail transport would reduce dependence on road convoys and eliminate costly border delays, improving both efficiency and reliability.

Rezaei described the Khaf–Herat railway as one of the region’s key strategic corridors, linking Afghanistan to Iran’s transport network and beyond to Turkiye and Europe. The route, he said, strengthens regional trade, ensures a stable supply of fuel and goods to Afghanistan, and supports energy market stability, particularly in Herat province.

According to official data, nearly 60,000 tonnes of goods were exported or transited from Iran to Afghanistan through the same route and border crossing last year.

Iran is one of Afghanistan’s largest trading partners, with annual bilateral trade nearing $4 billion. The ongoing closure of Pakistan’s ports to Afghan traders has further increased Afghanistan’s reliance on Iranian routes for trade and transit.