29/04/2026
Iran counters so-called US Blockade by 3 Land Routes. The blockade of Iranian ports has accelerated the operationalization of several critical land corridors. These routes form a "continental bridge" that connects Iran to China through Pakistan and Afghanistan, effectively bypassing naval restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz and the Arabian Sea.
1. The Pakistan Route (The CPEC-Western Link)
The primary land connection through Pakistan utilizes the infrastructure developed under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The Gabd–Rimdan Entry Point: Activated in April 2026, this is now a major gateway. Goods travel from Iran’s Rimdan border crossing into Pakistan’s Gabd (near Gwadar).
The Makran Coastal Highway & Western Alignment: From Gabd, cargo moves via the Makran Coastal Highway toward Gwadar Port, and then follows the CPEC Western Alignment. This route travels through Quetta and Zhob toward Islamabad.
The Karakoram Highway (KKH): The final leg connects Pakistan to China's Xinjiang province via the Khunjerab Pass. This 1,300 km highway serves as the direct umbilical cord between the Pakistani road network and the Chinese mainland.
Transit Order 2026: Pakistan recently issued the "Transit of Goods through Territory of Pakistan Order 2026," which provides the legal framework for Iranian goods to transit through Pakistan to third countries (primarily China) to ease the pressure of blocked maritime cargo.
2. The Afghanistan Route (The Five Nations Railway & Road Corridor)
While historically more volatile, Afghanistan is emerging as a critical link for rail and heavy road transport.
Khaf–Herat Railway: This is the centerpiece of the Five Nations Railway Corridor (FNRC). It connects Khaf in Iran to Herat in Afghanistan. As of 2026, feasibility studies for the extension toward Mazar-i-Sharif have been completed, aiming to link Iran directly to the Chinese border.
The Wakhan Corridor Road: There is an increasing focus on the direct road link between Afghanistan and China through the Wakhan Corridor. Though geographically challenging, it represents a sovereign route that avoids third-party transit through Central Asian republics.
Trans-Afghan Trade Route: Goods enter Afghanistan via the Dogharoon–Islam Qala border crossing (Iran-Afghanistan) and move eastward through Herat, Mazar-i-Sharif, and Kunduz, eventually reaching the Chinese border or crossing into Tajikistan to join Chinese rail networks.
3. The Central Asian "Southern Corridor"
To ensure redundancy, a significant portion of Iran-China land trade also moves slightly north of Afghanistan through a multimodal network:
Sarakhs Terminal: Located on the Turkmenistan-Iran border, this rail terminal was recently upgraded (with Chinese assistance) to handle high-volume container traffic.
ITTI Corridor: The Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul (ITI) road and rail corridor has been adapted to flow eastward. Goods move from Iran into Turkmenistan or Uzbekistan, then cross into Kyrgyzstan and finally into China at the Irkeshtam or Torugart passes.
Summary of Key Border Crossings
