KABUL - Officials in the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Afghanistan announced that United States of America has urged to halt relations with 24 Iranian corporations and a number of banks.
US officials said the Iranian corporations are allocating the interest from the Afghan-Iranian business deals on its nuclear programs.

The Iranian companies are also accused of purchasing dollars from the Afghan market in a bid to prevent from the US sanctions.

However the latest request from Washington has created tensions among the Afghan investors who are threatened by US sanctions if they did not terminate their relations with the Iranian companies and banks.
US officials also urged to end transit relations on Bandar Abbas transit route.

Deputy of the Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Khanjan Alokozay said Washington is concerned of the Iranian companies and banks who are arranging facilities for the Iran nuclear program and are looking to remain safe from the US sanctions using the exchange market in Afghanistan.

Mr. Alokozay said the implementation of US sanctions on Afghan-Iranian business deals will have a negative impact on the economic situation of Afghanistan despite the sanctions have not been enforced by the Afghan government yet.

Khanjan Alokozay said Afghanistan has a close relationship with Iran and majority of the fuel is imported via Iran and the implementation of the sanctions will be very difficult for Afghanistan.

He said Afghanistan imports goods worth of more than $2 billion from the other countries via Bandar Abbas transit route.

This comes as Washington has doubled economic sanctions on Iran over its controversial nuclear program. Washington warned other nations who are having trade ties with Iran to include them in its sanctions if they did not end their relations with Iran however this is the first time Washington urges Afghanistan to end trade ties with Iran.

In the meantime deputy Afghan trade and commerce minister Wahidullah Ghazni said trade relations with Iran is based on the national interest of Afghanistan and the government will decide in this regard considering the economic policies and national interest.

Analysts are saying that Afghanistan has become a hot bed for the Iranian products following US and EU sanctions on Iran due to its nuclear programs.

According to Afghan officials the export value of Iran has reached to $1.3 billion annually in Afghanistan. (KP)