Iran and Türkiye have reached a preliminary agreement to establish a new official border crossing at Kuzehrash, near the city of Salmas.

The agreement, confirmed by local transport officials after a site visit with a Turkish delegation, paves the way for the fourth official gateway between the two neighboring nations. The project is a key part of a shared ambition to elevate annual bilateral trade to $30 billion.

Arsalan Shokri, director general of the Roads Maintenance and Transportation Organization of West Azarbaijan Province, stated that technical studies for the new terminal are nearly complete.

“Only the final site selection remained, and today decisions were made to resolve this issue, with agreements reached,” Shokri said following the September 30 inspection.

A key feature of the project is the plan for both nations to construct their respective facilities on either side of the border, connected by a single, uniform gate. This design is intended to streamline customs and logistics, facilitating faster movement of goods and people.

The new Kuzehrash crossing, situated approximately 40 kilometers from Salmas, will join the three existing main crossings in West Azarbaijan Province: Bazargan, Razi, and Sero. As Iran’s only province sharing a frontier with Türkiye, the region serves as a critical land bridge for Iranian trade with Türkiye and European markets.

Officials from both countries anticipate that the additional crossing will strengthen economic ties, reduce congestion at existing gates, and further integrate the border regions into regional trade networks. (ILKHA)