Frouod Asgari, who also serves as Deputy Minister of Economy, stated that the organization has leveraged legal capacities and secured necessary approvals from relevant authorities to remove bottlenecks in foreign trade. He noted that special permits have been obtained regarding tracking codes, foreign currency provision, commodity valuation amendments, tariffs, and registration orders to prevent delays in clearance processes.
Asgari added that in certain cases, goods were cleared without tracking codes, and time extensions were granted to traders facing liquidity constraints. He also announced an increase in exit lines at the Imam Khomeini port to boost cargo throughput.
Asgari emphasized the importance of prioritizing registration orders over warehouse receipts, suggesting that goods arriving without prior registration could be cleared more swiftly through regulatory amendments. He also noted that proposals to facilitate imports without foreign exchange transfers and imports against exports are under government review.
Addressing challenges related to editing registration data—such as manufacturing year and value—Asgari stated that if discrepancies pertain to value and the central bank has confirmed the foreign currency allocation, lengthy clearance halts should be avoided.
Regarding border operations, Asgari acknowledged ongoing congestion at the Bazargan border and noted that while exit capacity has been increased, further cooperation from Turkish authorities is needed. Similarly, at the Pakistan border, Iran’s customs is ready for round‑the‑clock operations, but limitations remain on the Pakistani side, requiring national-level coordination involving the Ministry of Roads, free trade zones, and provincial authorities.
On trade data, Asgari reported that exports from March 21 to August 16 reached approximately $15 billion, while imports stood at nearly $17 billion, both showing a year‑on‑year decline. He highlighted that around 25,000 passenger cars have been cleared so far this year, marking significant growth compared to the same period last year. Additionally, about 9.5 million tons of essential goods, valued at roughly $7 billion, have been imported, with 4.5 million tons currently stored across 13 ports in various clearance stages.
The Customs chief concluded by reaffirming the agency’s readiness to reduce barriers, accelerate clearance, and support the private sector in international trade.