Majid Reza Hariri, chairman of the Iran-China Chamber of Commerce, warned that the naval blockade adds approximately $18 billion per year to Iran's import costs. According to Iranian media reports, he said shipping a container from China by sea costs about $3,000 compared to $12,000 by land, and warned the economy faces 'erosion and destruction' during a prolonged blockade. Hariri noted that southern ports handle roughly two million containers annually and that land and rail routes can supply urgent needs for only weeks to months.
The warning from the head of the Iran-China Chamber of Commerce adds to a growing body of evidence of the economic strain caused by the naval blockade. Iranian trade officials have previously documented similar cost increases: a VOA Persian report cited in The Zioneer noted that container shipping costs from China had surged 4–7 times, from $3,000 to $12,000. Iran's industry minister subsequently acknowledged that the shift from sea to land transport was raising domestic prices. The new assessment quantifies the aggregate annual impact at $18 billion, with Hariri warning that the country's southern ports—which process roughly two million containers yearly—cannot be replaced by overland routes beyond a few weeks or months. The blockade, which restricts Iran's maritime trade, has been a central lever in international pressure on Tehran over its nuclear program and regional activities.
2 developments
- DevelopingIran's industry minister admits naval blockade drives up domestic prices
- DevelopingJCFA analyst: US naval blockade cripples Iran's oil exports, IRGC believes it can outlast pressure
- StrongVOA Persian: Shipping costs to Iran surge 4-7 times amid naval restrictions
- DevelopingIranian MP: US naval blockade and economic pressure worse than 40-day war
Source and signal
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