The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance aims to turn customs posts into transit points rather than places where cargo is held up, a principle Economy Minister Seyyed Ali Madanizadeh has highlighted as central to the country’s trade facilitation agenda.

According to Shada, the ministry’s news service, Madanizadeh recently outlined the government’s approach during a visit to Russia, responding to questions from journalists about difficulties traders face at border crossings. He stressed that not all border delays stem from customs operations, noting that more than 20 government agencies and organisations are involved in cross-border trade and related procedures.

The ministry has therefore prioritised two complementary initiatives: coordinated border management and direct-through transport. Both are designed to move as many inspection and customs procedures as possible away from border checkpoints and into inland facilities, reducing congestion and preventing repeated stops for the same consignment.

Under the proposed approach, customs posts would serve primarily as points of passage rather than places of prolonged detention, marking a broader shift in Iran’s efforts to streamline foreign trade.

Customs clearance time falls by nearly half

The latest initiatives build on recent improvements in customs processing. Foroud Asgari, head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA), has reported that the average time required for customs clearance, from declaration to payment, has fallen from 143 hours to 73 hours.

The reduction brings the average processing time close to the Economy Ministry’s three-day target.

At the same time, essential commodities—including grain, animal feed, edible oils, medicines and medical equipment—have been placed in the customs green channel, allowing eligible consignments to be cleared more quickly, according to Asgari.

The green-channel arrangement is intended to accelerate the release of priority goods and ease the flow of essential supplies through the country’s ports and customs facilities.

4.6 million tonnes of essential goods undergoing clearance

The latest customs figures show that approximately 4.6 million tonnes of essential commodities are undergoing clearance at Iranian ports and customs facilities.

The largest share is at Imam Khomeini Port Customs, where around 3.2 million tonnes of such goods are being processed, according to Asgari. Amirabad customs accounts for approximately 500,000 tonnes, while Nowshahr holds about 200,000 tonnes.

In addition, around 28 vessels carrying nearly 200,000 tonnes of cargo are being unloaded, while approximately 60 ships carrying a further 500,000 tonnes are waiting at anchorage.

These volumes underscore the importance of efficient clearance procedures and effective coordination among the agencies responsible for processing incoming cargo.

Coordinated border management enters pilot phase

As part of the next stage of reform, IRICA has launched a pilot programme for coordinated border management at the Dogharoun crossing.

The initiative tracks the time taken by each truck from entry to exit, allowing authorities to identify precisely where delays occur and which agency is responsible for each stage of the process.

Customs, standards authorities, quarantine services, veterinary agencies and other bodies involved in cross-border trade are assessed as part of a single operational chain. The aim is to identify unnecessary waiting periods, eliminate duplicate inspections where possible and relocate certain controls from border checkpoints to inland customs facilities.

The programme complements the direct-through transport initiative. Under this approach, customs procedures that can be completed in advance are to be handled before goods reach the border, while coordinated management is intended to prevent consignments from being held up repeatedly by different agencies.

Together, the measures seek to address delays across the entire trade process rather than focusing exclusively on the time required for customs clearance.

Truck waiting times remain a challenge

Despite the reduction in average customs clearance time, lengthy truck queues at some border crossings remain a challenge for Iran’s foreign trade. Reports published in recent weeks have pointed to extended waiting times at certain crossings, highlighting the need to move procedures that can be conducted inland away from border checkpoints and improve coordination among the agencies involved.

Asgari has previously said that the reforms are intended to prevent goods from being held at the border and shift final controls to inland customs facilities wherever feasible.

Simplified procedures are also envisaged for businesses and manufacturers with dedicated warehouses, allowing goods to be moved from the border and transported under transit arrangements to those facilities.

The approach is intended to give traders greater flexibility in managing their supply chains while reducing pressure on border infrastructure.

From faster clearance to end-to-end trade efficiency

Iran’s latest measures reflect a broader change in the scope of its trade facilitation policy. Rather than concentrating solely on accelerating customs clearance, the government is seeking to reduce the total time goods spend moving through the trade and logistics chain.

Four measures form the core of this approach: reducing average customs clearance time from 143 hours to 73 hours, expediting the release of essential commodities through the green channel, piloting coordinated border management at Dogharoun, and implementing the direct-through transport initiative.

The common objective is to reduce procedural bottlenecks at border crossings, transfer suitable inspections and controls to inland facilities, eliminate avoidable delays and improve coordination among government agencies.

For importers, exporters and manufacturers, the potential benefits extend beyond shorter clearance times. More predictable cargo movements can help reduce transport and inventory costs, improve supply-chain planning and limit the uncertainty associated with cross-border shipments.

The effectiveness of the reforms will ultimately depend on their implementation across the agencies involved and on whether improvements in customs processing translate into shorter end-to-end transit times for goods and trucks.