Iran will retaliate against Turkmenistan's recent decision to increase tariffs on Iranian transit trucks, says director general of the Transit and Border Terminals Bureau of Iran's Road Maintenance and Transportation Organization, Mohammad Javad Atrchian.
"The measure, which only targets Iranian vehicles, goes against the transport agreements signed by the two sides and will certainly impact Tehran-Ashgabat commerce and economic relations," he was quoted by IRNA as saying on Saturday.
The official said the decision, which apparently took effect on August 8, has been made without prior notice or any explanation on the part of Turkmen officials. It was seemingly aimed at giving Turkish trucks a competitive edge over their Iranian peers when passing though Turkmen territory on their way to or from regional countries.
"Our diplomats have expressed objection to this decision and the same measure will be taken against Turkmen trucks in Iran," he said.
Every year about 75,000 Iranian trucks head to Turkmenistan and also 7,000 to 8,000 trucks use the neighboring country's roads to get to other destinations in the region.
Meanwhile, some 20,000 Turkmen trucks enter Iran every year. Another 2,000 to 3,000 use Iran as a transit route.
"These vehicles will now have to pay tariffs similar to those set by the Turkmen government for our truckers," the transport official said.
