TEHRAN – The head of Iran’s Chamber of Commerce, Samad Hasanzadeh, says the country’s northern ports remain underutilized and could play a significant role in importing essential goods under current conditions.
The Caspian Sea ports of Anzali and Nowshahr are among Iran’s most important gateways for foreign trade.
“Given the problems at southern ports, we need to make better use of other ports’ capacities to resolve trade issues and facilitate the import of essential goods,” Hasanzadeh said.
He added that essential goods currently need to be imported through provinces with large capacities.
Noting that Iran faces major challenges, particularly in importing essential goods, Hasanzadeh said large quantities of products are being brought in through the north or via Iraq’s borders.
However, he said this is not sufficient, as the vast capacity of southern ports has been lost.
And also on Wednesday, Muhammad Reza Farouqi,  the head of the ICCIMA’s Customs Committee said that despite intensified U.S. sanctions, Iran’s foreign trade will not be strangled and insisted that Tehran’s geographic depth and regional foothold make a total blockade “impossible.”
“Our neighbors need Iranian capacity as much as we need their markets,” Farouqi told IRNA, pointing to land, sea, and rail corridors that circumvent pressure. He added that domestic red tape is being slashed to ease logistics for traders.
Membership in the Eurasian Economic Union and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, he argued, already offers alternative lanes for exports and imports. Meanwhile, bilateral monetary pacts—bypassing dollar-dominated systems—are gaining traction to secure liquidity and boost non-oil sales.
“Even under maximum pressure, exchange flows will not freeze,” Farouqi said. “We are pursuing multiple routes, financial accords, and internal reforms simultaneously.” The remarks signal a calculated push to project resilience, as authorities seek to reassure business circles rattled by renewed U.S. threats. While challenges persist, officials frame Iran’s connectivity as a strategic asset—one they believe will outlast any siege.