Tehran, Iran, April 30
By Mehdi Sepahvand – Trend:
Iran is pushing Turkmenistan to bilaterally lift some controversial tariffs on trucks that have caused drivers and trade companies from neighboring countries much problem over the past year.
In a recent trip by Iranian officials to Turkmenistan, the two sides discussed the case thoroughly and Iran expressed readiness to cooperate with the Turkmen side to bilaterally lift the tariffs, Mohammad Javad Atrchian, a senior official with Iran’s Road Maintenance and Transportation Organization told Mehr news agency April 30.
“We said we are ready to lift the tariffs…. They promised to discuss the issue further in a meeting in Ashgabat in near future.”
Each year some 6,000 Turkmen trucks use the Iranian territory en route to Turkey. Over the past year and as a result of the Turkmen-initiated tariffs, Turkmen truck drivers have been expressing frustration with the situation.
The war of tariffs between the two countries was ignited by Turkmenistan on August 8 when it assigned $160 entrance duties for less-than-20-ton trucks and $260 entrance duties on more-than-20-ton trucks from Iran, added by $1 per kilometer mileage extra tariff. The move came without any advance notice.
Shortly afterward, Iran retaliated, saying transit trucks from Turkmenistan would had to pay more tariffs while crossing Iranian borders from August 13.
The tariffs then implemented by Iran consisted of $270 entrance fee and $1 per kilometer drive in the Iranian territory.