An Afghan bank may open a branch in Iran’s Chabahar Free Trade Zone (FTZ) to facilitate transactions with the businesses to and from Afghanistan, Eghtesad Online news website reported on Tuesday.
“Afghanistan is exempt from (U.S.) sanctions … (therefore) Afghan banks are allowed to operate in Chabahar,” Iran’s Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian said on Monday in meeting with visiting Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Mohammad Hanif Atmar in the capital Tehran.
“Opening bank branches in Chabahar can pave the way for closer ties between the two neighbors,” Ardakanian was quoted as saying.
The Iranian minister did not specify the name of the bank.
According to the report, three banks from Afghanistan have already applied for permits to open branches in Chabahar FTZ, and Ghazanfar Bank, one of the three, is reportedly taking the final steps to open a branch in the strategic port.
Washington has exempted Iran’s southeastern port of Chabahar from anti-Iran sanctions to leave the route open for Afghanistan’s trade with other countries.
