122°F, no water and no food: Iranian truck drivers stranded at the border

A report from the US reveals a severe crisis at Iran's borders: thousands of trucks stranded in extreme heat, drivers without water and food, and delays of up to 20 days. Iran's attempts to bypass the American blockade via land routes are failing, and the economic crisis is worsening with food inflation at 128%.

A comprehensive report from the United States reveals a severe transportation and economic crisis in Iran, following its failed attempts to bypass the American blockade through overland trade routes. According to the report, approximately 3,700 trucks are stuck on the Iranian side of the border crossing to Turkey, with delays reaching 20 days. At the main crossing to Pakistan, hundreds of trucks are waiting in extreme heat of 50 degrees Celsius (122°F), with drivers left for days without access to water or food. The Trucking Association claims that Pakistani authorities are demanding an unprecedented sum of about $10,000 from each Iranian driver for crossing the border. Tons of apricots have rotted on the roads due to the delays, and cargoes of iron ore, cement, and gas are waiting uselessly at entry points. Meanwhile, the cranes at Shahid Rajaee port, Iran's largest commercial container port, stand idle, and thousands of containers are stuck in ports across the Middle East. Transportation costs are soaring: shipping one container from China to Iran overland costs $12,000, compared to $3,000 by sea. The president of the Iran-China Chamber of Commerce estimated that the American blockade will cost the Iranian economy an additional $18 billion per year. Food inflation in the country surged to a staggering 128% in August.