Iran turns to Pakistan land corridor as US naval pressure disrupts Gulf trade

Iran turns to Pakistan land corridor as US naval pressure disrupts Gulf trade Submitted by MEE correspondent on Thu, 05/14/2026 - 15:00 New trade corridors with Pakistan are opening alternative trade access with Central Asia and helping the Islamic Republic bypass the US naval blockade Iranian cargo trucks cross into the Pakistan-Iran border at Taftan, Balochistan province on 18 June 2025 (Banaras Khan/AFP) Off As US naval pressure disrupts Iran 's access to the Arabian Gulf, Tehran is turning east. New overland trade routes with Pakistan are allowing goods destined for the Islamic Republic to bypass a US blockade now entering its fifth week, preserving Iran's access to regional markets and potentially opening a new commercial pathway towards Central Asia. Last month, Pakistan's Ministry of Commerce issued a dry, technical and easy-to-miss regulatory order known as SRO 691, which designated six transit routes for cargo arriving in Iran from third countries through Pakistani territory.