Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 150; Flight Crew Total 15600; Flight Crew Type 10800
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Security
Company Policy; Environment - Non Weather Related
I called Dispatch over 4 hours prior to my departure to share my concerns regarding flying through the Middle East. I wanted to be sure I was not being routed over RANAH on the Turkmenistan/Afghanistan border. I was told by the Dispatcher that RANAH was the planned route. I told her that I wanted to be routed over AMDAR further to the north. I felt the route through Turkmenistan was too close to the Iranian border. Only about 20 miles. I believe that under the current geo-political issues with the region; we should not be using this route. The Dispatcher did agree to change my route. However; I believe company policy should remove the southern route as a dispatch option.
Air carrier Captain requested an amended routing from Dispatch during preflight preparations in order to avoid flying too close to the Iranian border.