Iran’s foreign trade network is witnessing a major pivot, with new customs data revealing that the dollar value of imports through Gilan province’s northern borders has surged by 60 percent over the past six months.

Mohammad Feiz, Deputy of Commerce and Trade Development for Gilan Province, confirmed that the bulk of this influx is being efficiently processed through the strategic Anzali port on the Caspian Sea.

"This data confirms that Gilan province is playing a pivotal role in shifting Iran's foreign trade logistics from traditional southern maritime hubs toward northern corridors," Feiz stated, highlighting the operational success of this regional diversification strategy.

This logistical realignment in Gilan serves as a direct countermeasure to the relentless US economic blockade.

For years, Washington has attempted to strangle Iran’s economy by weaponizing the global financial system and threatening maritime security in the Persian Gulf.

War spurs Iran’s push to develop Caspian energy frontier

Iran returns Amir Kabir to the Caspian, reviving deep-water exploration and opening a northern energy frontier that could strengthen domestic supply, regional trade and links to Asian markets.

However, these coercive measures have backfired, accelerating Tehran’s integration into alternative regional supply chains.

Provinces like Gilan are now at the forefront of this economic resilience, actively leveraging the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) to securely link Iran with Russia and broader Eurasian markets, ensuring the steady flow of essential goods despite Western containment efforts.