Armenia, Iran join forces on key North–South road project

Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan and Iranian Vice-President Mohammad Reza Aref have held talks on the construction of the Mehri–Kajaran section of the North–South highway.

The meeting took place in Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan, on the sidelines of the conference of landlocked countries, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

Both sides also explored ways to expand cooperation in the fields of economy, energy, infrastructure projects, and advanced technologies.

Khachaturyan expressed gratitude for the involvement of an Iranian company in the implementation of the Mehri–Kajaran section.

The current situation in the region was also raised during the talks.

The North–South Transport Corridor is a major regional infrastructure initiative aimed at enhancing connectivity between Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Middle East.

This multimodal route, spanning railways, roads, and sea links, seeks to shorten transit times and reduce costs for freight moving between Russia, Iran, Armenia, and further south to the Persian Gulf. 

For Armenia, improving road connections with Iran is crucial as it provides an important alternative trade route, helping to bypass closed borders with Türkiye and Azerbaijan. The Mehri–Kajaran road section is a vital link within this corridor, enabling smoother transport of goods and boosting economic cooperation.

Iran’s involvement through investment and construction expertise signals a strengthening of bilateral ties and shared interests in regional development. The collaboration also aligns with broader efforts by landlocked countries to improve access to global markets and diversify economic partnerships.

This project is viewed as a key step towards greater regional integration and economic growth.

By Aghakazim Guliyev