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have allocated selected areas for Iranian drivers to rest after their export consignment journeys.
A 940-metre-long freight train—the longest train to have ever operated on the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway (BTK)—departed Turkey for Central Asia at the weekend, partly helping to overcome present hurdles to exporting goods to and via Iran, Turkish Transport and Infrastructure Minister Adil Karaismailoglu said.
The locomotive is pulling 82 containers carrying various Turkish products. During a journey of nine days, it was due to stop in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, the terminus.
The BTK was launched in October 2017. One of its roles is to serve as a vital link in a new freight and passenger route connecting Europe and China.
A significant amount of cargo is now being carried via railroad, the minister said.
“There are many items in the train, from cleaning materials to automotive industry products,” Karaismailoglu added.
Turkey’s trucked exports to Iran and via Iran to Central Asian countries were completely suspended amid the emergence of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Much of that trade has been shifted to the BTK line, according to Turkish officials.
Since March 3, when the BTK line resumed after a short suspension, a total of 55,000 tonnes of goods were transported on the railway in 1,350 wagons, according to the minister.
Meanwhile, 100,000 tonnes of goods were also transported to and from Iran on railways during the same period, in 3,000 wagons, he added.
9.1.6​Tourism sector news
Tourism was one of the few ​sectors​ of Iran's economy that had not fallen prey to successive rounds of US economic sanctions unleashed by the Donald Trump administration. But now ​Iran​ is facing an even more formidable foe than Washington, as the coronavirus pandemic sweeps through the Islamic Republic. ​About 6,000 people have died from COVID-19 in Iran, according to Iran's health ministry.
Following the news of spiking deaths from the deadly virus, Armenia, Turkey, Afghanistan and Azerbaijan reportedly joined the list of neighbours sealing up their borders with Iran.​Azerbaijan gradually closed its borders, including in Bilarsavur and Astara, the latter closing later in the day.
Nurseries, schools and public events such as sports matches have all been cancelled until further notice, with the government and private businesses now warning people to not shake hands or be in close confines with each other. The news follows parliamentary elections which saw large crowds of people standing in line – some with masks – to vote on February 21.
On February 22, the Armenian Foreign Ministry called on citizens to halt travel to Iran. The ministry asked those who are on the Iranian side to contact the Armenian embassy.
By afternoon on February 23, Turkish Airlines announced it was cancelling all flights to and from Iran by the end of the day.
Flights via Iraqi Airways to Baghdad were officially “delayed” on the board; it is not known whether the return flight to the neighbour will carry passengers.
Iranian authorities have ordered all travel agencies, airlines and hotels to
refund all bookings and tickets and waive all cancellation fees.
41​ IRAN Country Report May 2020 www.intellinews.com