Turkey-Iran border crossing jammed by overland trade surge

Hundreds of trucks are currently idling at the Gurbulak border crossing between Turkey and Iran, creating miles-long queues. This surge in overland traffic comes as a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports forces Tehran to shift its trade routes from sea to land.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for the acceleration of overland trade to mitigate the impact of the blockade, which has limited imports and disrupted oil and gas sales essential to the Iranian economy. Before the current conflict, Iran relied on the Persian Gulf for over 80% of its trade. Now, land crossings with Turkey and Pakistan have become vital lifelines for connecting with Europe and Asia.

President Pezeshkian accused the United States of attempting to weaken the country by closing air, land, and sea routes. Tehran has indicated it will not change its negotiating stance with Washington and maintains that commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz will only resume once the blockade ends.