Residents and shopkeepers in Herat say prices for food and other basic goods have risen sharply following US and Israeli strikes on Iran, which have disrupted trade flows into western Afghanistan.
Herat, which relies heavily on imports through the Islam Qala border crossing with Iran, has felt the effects quickly, residents said. Many consumer goods, including cooking oil and other staple foods, are sourced from Iranian markets.
“Israel and Iran are at war, and prices have increased a lot,” said Abdul Latif, a resident of Herat. “At the same time, Pakistan is attacking the Taliban, and it is the month of Ramadan. Our economic situation is very bad.”
Several shopkeepers said wholesale prices had climbed in recent days, particularly for cooking oil. Other imported goods, including construction materials, have also become more expensive.
“Prices have gone up,” said Ezzatullah, a shopkeeper. “Most of our food items come from Iran. I don’t know the exact reason — whether traders are raising prices or there are other causes.”
Another shopkeeper, Farhad, said customers were struggling to afford even basic goods. “People’s economic conditions are very poor,” he said. “They cannot even buy cheaper food items. People are in a very difficult situation.”
Local sources in Herat said that internet disruptions in Iran and the announcement of 40 days of public mourning there have slowed or halted some commercial activity, affecting cross-border shipments. The claims could not be independently verified.
The price increases come at a time when Afghanistan’s trade routes are already under strain. Commercial exchanges with Pakistan have been largely suspended for more than four months amid political tensions, leaving Afghan markets increasingly dependent on trade through Iran.
Economists warn that prolonged disruptions on both western and eastern borders could further pressure household incomes in a country already grappling with widespread poverty and unemployment.
