🔻 How did sanctions turn Kolbars and Tahlanjis into part of Iran's imports?

🔻 How did sanctions turn Kolbars and Tahlanjis into part of Iran's imports?

Ali Ramazanian, economic journalist

In a situation where disruptions in maritime trade and restricted access to the international banking system have made conventional import routes difficult, the government has shifted to utilizing these capabilities more, instead of restricting the two traditional methods of border trade, namely Kolbari and Thalangi.

In recent years, the government and parliament have tried to bring these activities closer to official businesses.

The turning point of this process was the approval of the "Law on the Organization and Supervision of Border Trade (Kolbari and Sailors) and Creation of Sustainable Employment for Border Residents" in Bahman 1402 and the publication of its executive regulations in January 1403. This law allowed the import of Kolbari and Malvani goods to increase support, expand its purpose, and reduce its replacement routes for five years, supporting the livelihood of border residents. Although the official goal of this law is to protect border residents and reduce smuggling, the expansion of the list of permitted goods and the manner in which these two procedures are used indicate that Kolbari and Thalangi have become channels for supplying part of the country's import needs.