It’s also, importantly, more evidence of the impact that post-sanctions Iran is having on Central Asia and the South Caucasus. Reports from across the region have shown a sharp increase in trade with Iran since the US and the European Union lifted sanctions on Jan. 16.

These deals have included an agreement with Kazakh airline Air Astana, grPain agreements with Kazakhstan, trade arrangements with Armenia and the arrival of the first train, via Central Asia, direct from China in Iran.

But it is, perhaps, petrol exports to the Central Asia/South Caucasus region where Iran can have the biggest impact.

Officials from the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company told local media the shipment of petrol to Tajikistan measured 2.9m litres, a volume they could maintain on a daily basis. If it did send this amount of petrol to Tajikistan every day, Iran’s petrol exports would measure around 750,000 tonnes a year. This roughly equals Tajikistan’s total current consumption. It had previously imported most of its petrol from Russia.

Mohammad-Mehdi Gharaei, director of the distribution company, told media that Tajikistan had asked for the petrol products. “In view of the [post-sanctions] conditions, Tajikistan requested in early February to purchase Iranian gasoline,” he said.

Iran sent petrol to Tajikistan on trucks through Afghanistan.

Iran is a net importer of petrol. This, though, will change later this year when a new super-sized refinery opens on the Persian Gulf. This refinery will turn Iran into a petrol exporter and Central Asia and the South Caucasus will be a prime target market. They just don’t have enough refinery capacity.

Iman Nasseri, of FGE energy consultancy in London, said Iran is looking to capture market share.

“In the post-sanctions era we expect more shipments from Iran. Most of these might have been discussed and negotiated before sanctions were lifted,” Mr Nasseri told The Bulletin.