Tehran, Iran, Nov. 17
By Milad Fashtami - Trend:
Iran plans to seal the fuel tanks of Turkish trucks at the border in 15 days time.
Deputy Roads and Urban Development Minister Davood Keshavarzian said that Iranian trucks have to pay heavy transit fees to enter Turkey, while they can't even buy any fuel there, Iran 's Mehr News Agency reported on Nov. 17.
"So we have decided to stop selling fuel to Turkish trucks," he added.
The two countries are at odds over trucks' transit fees.
Tehran on October 27 gave a 20-day ultimatum to Turkey to resume selling fuel to Iranian Trucks on Turkish soil.
Head of Transit Department at Iran Road Maintenance and Transportation Organization (RMMTO) Mohammad Javad Atrchian said that if the Turkish government fails to meet the deadline, Iran would also cut selling fuel to Turkish trucks in retaliation, Iran 's Fars News Agency reported.
Over the past years, Iran has charged a $750 transit fee for the trucks entering the country from Turkey, while the Iranian trucks were entering Turkey for free.
Following that Turkey imposed a similar fee on Iranian trucks. But the Islamic Republic increased the fee to $1,500 on October 10.
The Iranian officials said that under an agreement signed with Turkey a few decades ago, the two sides may charge a transit fee only if there is a difference in fuel prices in the two countries.
The price of 1 liter of diesel fuel in Turkey is 2.12 TRY (the rate of $1 is equal to 2.2729 TRY). In Iran, 1 liter of diesel fuel costs 2,500 IRR (the rate of $1 is equal to 26,692 IRR).
Turkish Transport, Maritime and Communication Minister Lutfi Elvan said on October 20 the twofold increase in transit fees for Turkish trucks entering Iran is illegal, the Kanal7 TV channel reported.
The minister said Turkey respects all agreements with Iran, adding that Tehran 's response should be similar.
