ASIATODAY.ID, DOHA — Iran and Qatar have restarted maritime trade after a five-month suspension, marking an important step toward restoring commercial activity and shipping connectivity across the Gulf.
The resumption was confirmed on Sunday by Iran’s commercial attaché in Doha, Abbas Abdolkhani, who said shipping services between Iran’s Dayyer Port and Qatar’s Al Ruwais Port had resumed following coordination between the Iranian Embassy in Doha and Qatari authorities.
Maritime trade between the two Gulf neighbors had been suspended for about five months amid regional tensions that disrupted shipping routes, logistics networks, and commercial exchanges across one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors.
The reopening follows a temporary agreement reached last month between Iran and the United States, under which both sides agreed to work toward restoring maritime traffic in the Gulf. However, discussions over transit arrangements for vessels entering and leaving the Gulf remain ongoing.
The Dayyer–Al Ruwais route is a key regional trade corridor, facilitating the movement of food products, construction materials, consumer goods, and other cargo between southern Iran and northern Qatar. During the conflict, Dayyer Port reportedly came under repeated attacks, disrupting port operations and regional supply chains.
Further signs of recovery emerged in late June, when an official from Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization said Iranian exports had resumed processing through Jebel Ali Port in the United Arab Emirates, the Gulf’s largest commercial port. The development points to a gradual recovery in cross-Gulf trade following months of disruption, although broader regional shipping arrangements are still under discussion.
The reopening of maritime links between Iran and Qatar is expected to improve the flow of goods between the two countries and reinforce confidence among exporters, shipping companies, and regional businesses that depend on Gulf trade routes.
While uncertainties remain over the region’s long-term security environment, the return of maritime trade marks a significant milestone in restoring economic connectivity and supporting the gradual recovery of commerce across the Gulf. (AT Network)
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