Iran formalizes kolbari and telengeh border trade, expanding informal import channels

Iran has expanded legal frameworks for kolbari (mountain border smuggling) and telengeh (southern port smuggling), integrating these informal practices into the formal economy. This shift formalizes longstanding livelihood trade, potentially increasing import volumes outside official customs channels. The development signals a state-level accommodation of informal trade networks, with implications for Iran's import data and sanctions evasion.