Envoy: Iran to complete land acquisition for key Rasht–Astara railway by April

Tehran is set to finalize all land acquisition for the Rasht–Astara railway section by the end of March, Iran’s ambassador to Moscow, Kazem Jalali, told Russian state-run media in a year-end interview.

The move clears a critical step for the project, which forms a vital link in the North–South International Transport Corridor.

“Significant progress has been made in acquiring land plots for the project, and more than 100 kilometres have already been allocated for construction,” Jalali said. “The acquisition process is moving forward on a daily basis, and according to the Iranian side, it will be completed by the end of the current Iranian year, which corresponds to the third decade of March.”

The ambassador highlighted the strategic importance of the railway, noting that it serves as the missing link of the western branch of the corridor and is “one of the most important projects in bilateral relations, actively promoted by the authorities of both countries at the highest level.”

He added that the project advanced steadily over the past year. “Fortunately, last year we observed good progress in advancing this project. An addendum to the engineering surveys was signed,” Jalali said.

The Rasht–Astara railway is expected to significantly enhance trade connectivity between Iran and Azerbaijan, facilitating smoother transport along the North–South Corridor and boosting regional economic cooperation.

By Vafa Guliyeva