Geneva:Iran emphasized the importance of simplifying border and customs procedures to decrease the time and cost of international transit at a United Nations transport meeting held in Geneva.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Mehran Ghorbani, Iran's deputy minister of roads and urban development, presented the country's perspective on enhancing transport corridors and transit network efficiency during a panel at the 39th session of the UNECE Working Party on Transport Trends and Economics (WP.5).

Ghorbani highlighted Iran's strategic position along the International North-South Transport Corridor and east-west routes, viewing it as both a geographical advantage and a responsibility to ensure safe, efficient, and continuous transit across the region and beyond.

He identified the completion of key infrastructure projects, such as the Chabahar-Zahedan and Rasht-Astara railway lines, as crucial for improving interregional connectivity.

Additionally, Ghorbani advocated for harmonized customs and border procedures, standardized documentation, and secure data exchange between national systems to minimize border waiting times and transportation costs, thus making transit routes more predictable.

He also emphasized Iran's initiatives to promote data exchange among customs, trade, and transport authorities, and the use of smart technologies. Ghorbani underscored the potential of international instruments and standards, such as the TIR Convention, to facilitate international transport.