ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Turkey has reopened its borders with Iran for international freight transport after months of closure to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Announcing the decision on a TV program Friday, Turkey’s Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan said she appreciated the Iranian government’s cooperation with regard to designing and implementing health protocols which resulted in the reopening of trade borders, reported Turkish newspaper Hurriyet. "Our customs gates for Iran and Iraq, particularly Habur and Gürbulak, have been reopened for international freight transport," said the minister. Valued at $1.29 billion in 2019, Iran’s trade with Turkey was suspended on February 23, early into the rapidly-spreading virus pandemic, which severely impacted Iran’s already-struggling economy. Iranian President’s Chief of Staff Mahmoud Vaezi expressed pleasure in the reopening of Iran’s Bazargan border crossing with Turkey, saying “I hope the trade relations between the two countries will be further developed by strictly implementing health protocols,” Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency reported. Iran’s economy has been reeling from US-imposed sanctions, and a viral pandemic that has ravaged the country. Trade with key partner China has seen a 40% drop in the first four months of this year, falling to $8.76 billion last year to $5.26 billion this year. Iran is in dire need of cash flow as it has struggled to find markets to sell oil due to US economic sanctions. Turkey is a vital trade partner, but since March 31 its gas exports to Turkey were disrupted when a suicide bombing claimed by PKK militants damaged a natural gas pipeline. Despite repeated calls by Iran, Turkey has failed to make repairs to the pipeline. “Iran has expressed readiness to fix the pipeline, but this proposal was not received by the other party,” Iran’s Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh told an Iranian radio station in May.
