Iran Shifts from UAE Trade Routes as Pakistan Opens Transit Corridor

May 3, 2026

Pakistan authorizes Iranian trade transit routes as Tehran seeks alternatives to US blockade and Gulf shipping dependence.

Pakistan has authorized transit of good intro Iran. (Photo: Bjoertvedt/ Wikimedia)

Key Developments

• Pakistan formally authorizes the transit of Iranian goods through its ports and territory.
• New routes activate dormant 2008 Pakistan-Iran transport agreement amid US maritime pressure.
• Corridor marks strategic shift away from UAE-based trade routes previously relied upon by Iran.

Pakistan Opens Strategic Transit Routes
Pakistan has officially authorized the transit of goods into Iran through Pakistani territory and ports, according to Tasnim News Agency.
The move positions Karachi, Port Qasim, and Gwadar as key logistical gateways for Iranian trade at a time when Washington continues efforts to tighten maritime pressure on Tehran.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Commerce issued the ‘Transit of Goods through Territory of Pakistan Order 2026’ on April 25, putting the arrangement into immediate effect.
The order activates a bilateral road transport agreement signed between Tehran and Islamabad in 2008 that had never previously been operationalized.

Six New Trade Routes
The agreement establishes six overland transit corridors linking Pakistan’s three major ports to the Iranian border crossings at Gabd and Taftan through Balochistan.
The announcement coincided with the visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to Islamabad for talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Pakistani officials said the Gwadar-Gabd corridor would reduce travel time to the Iranian border to between two and three hours while cutting transportation costs by up to 55 percent compared with routes through Karachi.

Shift Away from UAE-Centered Trade Networks
The development also signals a major shift away from the Gulf trade infrastructure Iran had long relied upon, particularly through Jebel Ali Port in the United Arab Emirates.
For years, UAE ports served as critical hubs for Iranian commercial access and regional re-export operations.
The new Pakistan-Iran corridor offers Tehran an alternative route less exposed to maritime restrictions and Gulf-based pressure.
According to industry figures cited in the report, Karachi has already handled approximately 75 percent of cargo redirected toward Pakistan since the war began.
Gwadar — operated by China Overseas Port Holding Company as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor — is located only around 170 kilometers from Iran’s Chabahar port.

Part of Broader Regional Integration
Tasnim described the corridor as more than a wartime logistical adjustment.
The report framed the arrangement as part of a broader strategic network linking South Asia to Eurasia through China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
The corridor also aligns with Beijing’s long-term efforts to reduce dependence on the Strait of Malacca by creating alternative energy and trade routes through Pakistan into western China.

US Blockade and Iranian Warnings
The agreement comes amid ongoing US maritime pressure operations targeting Iran.
US President Donald Trump announced a maritime blockade against Iran on April 13, with US naval forces reportedly intercepting vessels near Iranian waters.
Iranian officials have warned that continuation of the blockade risks undermining negotiations and escalating regional tensions.
A senior Iranian security source told Press TV that continued US “maritime piracy and bullying” would eventually face an “unprecedented and tangible military response.”
 

‘Clear Roadmap’: Iran Unveils Conditions for Ending War with US and Israel

Iran delivers a comprehensive proposal to end the war as indirect negotiations with Washington continue through Pakistani mediation.

Key Developments

• Iran submits 14-point proposal outlining terms for ending war with US and Israel.
• Iranian proposal reportedly demands guarantees against future military action and blockade removal.
• Tehran seeks broader settlement within 30 days rather than temporary ceasefire arrangement.
• Iranian officials reiterate distrust toward Washington despite continued diplomatic engagement.

Iran Presents 14-Point Proposal
Fars News Agency reported on Sunday that Iran has submitted a 14-point proposal outlining its conditions for ending the war, as indirect contacts with the United States continue through Pakistani mediation.
According to informed sources cited by the agency, exchanges between Tehran and Washington are taking place through Pakistan despite what Iranian officials describe as “continuing distrust” toward the United States.
Fars said the diplomatic track was activated following approval by relevant Iranian authorities and described the proposal as a “clear roadmap” aimed at ending what Tehran calls an “imposed war.”
The agency added that the Iranian proposal defines Tehran’s “red lines” within any future agreement and comes in response to a separate nine-point proposal submitted by Washington.

Key Iranian Demands
Tasnim News Agency confirmed the existence of the 14-point Iranian response and reported that Tehran’s proposal centers primarily on securing a complete and permanent end to the war.
According to the report, the US proposal included a two-month ceasefire framework, while Iran insisted that all major issues should instead be resolved within 30 days through a broader settlement.
Tasnim reported that Tehran’s proposal includes demands for guarantees against future military attacks, the withdrawal of US forces from areas near Iran, the lifting of maritime restrictions, the unfreezing of Iranian assets, and compensation payments.
The proposal also reportedly calls for ending hostilities across all fronts, including Lebanon, and establishing a new framework governing the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran is currently awaiting an official American response to the proposals.

Deputy Foreign Minister Confirms Initiative
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharib Abadi confirmed that Tehran had formally submitted a proposal aimed at permanently ending the US-Israeli war against Iran.
Speaking during a briefing for foreign ambassadors in Tehran, Gharib Abadi said the proposal had been delivered through Pakistani mediation.
“The ball is now in the American court,” he stated, referring to the choice between diplomacy and continued war.
At the same time, the deputy foreign minister emphasized that Iran continues to maintain “pessimism and lack of trust” toward the United States and Washington’s intentions regarding negotiations.
The diplomatic efforts come amid continuing regional tensions following months of confrontation involving Iran, the United States, Israel, and multiple regional fronts.
While both sides continue indirect communication, Iranian officials have repeatedly stressed that negotiations will not alter Tehran’s broader strategic positions or security demands.