Turkey Iran border crossing hit by severe truck delays

Updated: 24/09/2026 - 13:00 GMT+2 Long queues at Turkey’s Gurbulak border with Iran turn a 24‑hour route into a week, leaving truck drivers and their...
Updated: 24/09/2026 - 13:00 GMT+2
Long queues at Turkey’s Gurbulak border with Iran turn a 24‑hour route into a week, leaving truck drivers and their families struggling.
Hundreds of trucks wait at the Gurbulak border crossing in Turkey's eastern Agri province, with drivers standing beside their vehicles as they face long waits to enter Iran.
Truckers say the delays have sharply reduced the number of journeys they can make. One driver says a route that once took 24 hours now takes a week, while rising fuel costs have further cut profits.
Another says he now makes only one journey every 40 days or two months, leaving his family dependent on his income.
The queues have grown as Iran relies more heavily on overland trade following disruption to maritime routes.




