Banking sanctions halt Iran’s exports to Pakistan: Official

Iran’s exports to Pakistan have been "temporarily" halted due to banking sanctions, while imports from Pakistan continue, Iranian media reported Saturday. Peyman Sanandaji, head of the Transportation Commission at the Tehran Chamber of Commerce, told Mehr News Agency that the shared land border remains open, rejecting reports that a border crossing had been closed. He said Pakistani importers are required to submit electronic import forms through Pakistan's banking system for goods purchased from Iran. Sanandaji said sanctions on Iran’s banking system have made the process difficult, creating problems for Iranian exporters and Pakistani importers. Imports from Pakistan into Iran, however, continue, he said. Sanandaji warned that if the banking restrictions persist, Iranian exports to Pakistan would effectively remain halted. Iran’s banking sector is subject to extensive US sanctions that restrict transactions with Iranian financial institutions and can expose foreign banks dealing with sanctioned Iranian entities to US measures.