Azerbaijan, Turkey Transit Goods to Qatar Via Iran

Azerbaijan and Turkey have exported 446 tons of food to Qatar via Iran’s southern port of Bandar Lengeh in Hormozgan Province on the coast of Persian Gulf, as of the beginning of the current Iranian year (March 21), the director general of the port’s customs bureau said.  Safar Sheybani added that fruits, vegetables and eggs were the main commodities transited during the period, IRNA reported.  Ankara, Baku and Doha have recently focused on land trade routes passing through Iran. According to Mohammed bin Mahdi Al Ahbabi, a board member of Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the land trade line between Turkey and Qatar via Iran reduces the cost of transport of goods by about 80% compared to air cargo. Regional countries, mainly Turkey and Iran, have sought to fill the gap in the Qatari market after a number of Arab states—led by Saudi Arabia—abruptly severed diplomatic relations with Qatar early June and imposed a blockade on the Persian Gulf country, accusing it of supporting terrorist groups. The Qatari government has denied the accusation, blasting the blockade as unjustified and a violation of international law.