From Herat To Wakhan: Afghanistan’s Strategic Role In Iran–China Connectivity And Emerging Economic Opportunities – OpEd

Some Iranian and Afghan media outlets have quoted a senior Iranian railway official, Jabbar Ali Zakeri, as stating that Iran is considering a new transit railway route linking Iran to China through Afghanistan. According to these reports, Iran plans to extend a railway line from Herat province to Balkh and then onward to Wakhan in Badakhshan, thereby connecting Iran to China via Afghan territory.

Although these statements by the Iranian official remain at the level of discussion and planning, if such a project is implemented in the future, it could significantly enhance commercial and economic relations across the region—particularly among Afghanistan, Iran, and China.

At present, trade between Iran and China is largely conducted via maritime routes, which are neither free of challenges nor efficient in terms of time and distance. Despite this, the two countries remain major trading partners. While non-oil trade exists between them, Chinese imports of Iranian oil have played a central role in strengthening bilateral ties. As the world’s largest manufacturing country, China has become Iran’s largest oil buyer, especially due to U.S. sanctions that have limited Tehran’s access to global energy markets.

Although the United States has imposed sanctions on Iran, China continues to engage in trade with Tehran, viewing these sanctions as

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