Iran Threatens To Stop Fuel Supply To Turkish Trucks

Tehran, Oct 28, IRNA – A senior official at the Road Maintenance Organization said Iran has forwarded its proposals to Turkish officials on removing transit disputes between the two countries and if Ankara rejects those proposals Iran will stop fuel supply to Turkish trucks within the Iranian territory. Mohammad Javad Atrchian further remarked that after Turkey started to receive heavy tariffs from Iranian trucks entering into that country, trucks have been jammed behind borders since last week while those paying the money can easily pass the borders between the two countries. Stressing that it was not clear why Turkey has imposed duties for entry of Iranian trucks after bilateral agreements, Atrchian said Ankara will receive 60 euro for each 100 km that Iranian trucks take in that country and will not allow them to receive fuel inside Turkey. However, the official added, Iran by taking the same duties will allow Turkish trucks to receive fuel in the country. He stressed that a solution to such disputes requires talks between officials of the two countries, adding that Iran’s proposals have been conveyed to the Turkish deputy road minister in his recent meeting with Iran’s minister of road and urban development. He said the Turks can look for routes replacing Iran but this will cost them too heavy than passing through Iran and noted that Iran is examining substitute routes such as Armenia, the Republic of Azerbaijan and Russia to carry goods to Turkey. Atrchian pointed to the $16-milion trade transactions between Iran and Turkey and said the majority of transactions included Turkey’s exports to Iran and reduction of transportation of Turkish trucks has resulted in reduction of exports. This has caused the price of Turkish goods to go up which provides a good opportunity for domestic industries in Iran to increase their products. He said if the Turkish side refuses to hold talks to find a solution, the same rules will be adopted at all Iranian border areas to prevent selling fuel to Turkish trucks and seal gasoline tanks of the Turkish trucks./end