Azerbaijan, Iran hold talks on East Zangezur railway construction

Rovshan Rustamov, Chairman of Azerbaijan Railways, who is on an official visit to Iran, met with Jabbar Ali Zakari Sardrudi, the head of Iran's railway administration.

According to Azerbaijan Railways, the meeting focused on cooperation concerning a transport route that will link mainland Azerbaijan with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic via Iran, as well as discussions on the North-South International Transport Corridor, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

A broad exchange of views took place on matters of mutual interest, particularly regarding the conceptual project agreed upon last year for the construction of a railway line.

This line will establish a direct land connection between the East Zangezur Economic Region and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic through Iranian territory.

Discussions also touched on the development of the North-South International Transport Corridor and the potential increase in freight traffic along this route.

Notably, the Zangezur Corridor is set to re-establish a direct connection between Azerbaijan’s mainland and its exclave, Nakhchivan. More than just a regional link, the corridor is expected to create a new transcontinental trade route by connecting to the Nakhchivan-Kars railway, which links Azerbaijan to Türkiye. 

By integrating with Türkiye’s railway network, the corridor will offer a direct path into European markets. Its strategic location could play a significant role in global trade, with the potential to benefit Eurasian economies, collectively worth $1.1 trillion in GDP.

China has shown interest in the corridor as part of its Belt and Road Initiative, while the Zangezur Corridor also aligns with the objectives of the Middle Corridor, a vital modern trade route connecting East Asia with Europe, echoing the ancient Silk Road.

By Aghakazim Guliyev