Before the naval restrictions, more than 80% of Iranian trade moved by sea. The US currently holds leverage over its regional partners; Turkey's annual trade with Washington is $35–45 billion, compared with $5–8 billion with Iran. While new sanctions may not stop freight trains between China and Iran, the routes may become costlier and less reliable. Turkey and Pakistan were former partners of Iran in the CENTO alliance before joining the effort to isolate the country.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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US Blocks Iran Overland Trade With Turkey and Pakistan
Geopolitics9 days ago
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the United States is targeting $1 billion in Iranian cryptocurrency assets to squeeze the regime’s remaining financial lifelines. Washington is coordinating with Turkey and Pakistan to shut down the final ground corridors used by Tehran to import medicine and industrial parts, effectively completing a land blockade. The measure is intended to remove the last alternative routes the Islamic Republic adopted after the US naval blockade cut off sea trade.
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