Tajikistan says it wants to get connected to the international waters through Iran’s south-eastern Chabahar Port.
“A major part of Tajikistan’s transit and economic problems is because it doesn't have access to the sea that’s why we want to use the Chabahar Port to resolve these problems,” said Tajik Foreign Minister Sirodjidin Mukhriddin [Aslov] on Saturday.
He was meeting with Iranian Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian in Tehran.
Chabahar Port, located in the Sea of Oman, is Iran’s only port that gives the country access to international waters. One part of it is being developed by India under a 10-year lease in a bid to export Indian goods and commodities to Afghanistan, bypassing Pakistan.
Recently, first Afghan convoy of exported goods destined for India, was dispatched to the South Asian nation through the Chabahar Port.
India is also seeking to export to Central Asia through Iran’s strategic port.
The Iranian minister stressed that both countries can strengthen water and electricity cooperation as 15% of the world’s hydroelectric power plants are in Tajikistan.
“If this potential is explored, it will have an important role in regional development. Iran is ready to give Tajikistan access to energy transit [through Iran] and provide the main infrastructure for economic activities in the region,” said Ardakanian.
The Iranian official stressed that Iran has electricity cooperation with all of its neighbours with which it shares land borders, adding that Tehran is studying to synchronise Iranian grids with Russian national electric network through Azerbaijan, Armenia or Georgia.
The Iranian government has urged the Ministry of Energy (MoE) to pursue “power diplomacy” to enhance political and economic cooperation with its neighbours.