Iran-Russia joint railway development to complete in 3-4 years, envoy says

The Rasht-Astara railway project, which is part of the North-South Transport Corridor, is expected to be completed in 3 to 4 years, according to Kazem Jalali, Iran's Ambassador to Moscow.

“We understand that at least another 3 to 4 years are needed to build the [Rasht-Astara] railway,” Jalali explained in an interview with Rossiya-24 TV channel, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

He emphasized that this railway forms the western segment of the North-South Transport Corridor, which is designed to create a vital trade route linking Iran with Russia and other regions. Jalali noted that the road portion of the western route is already operational, with over 3 million tonnes of cargo transported in the last year. However, the completion of the railway requires the construction of the remaining 160-kilometer section.

The Iranian ambassador reassured that Iran is in constant communication with Russian officials regarding the progress of the railway. In the meantime, Jalali stated, “While the railway segment between Astara and Rasht is being completed, cargo can be transported by rail to Astara and then continue by road to Rasht.”

In 2023, Russia and Iran signed an agreement to jointly build the 160-kilometer railway segment between Azerbaijan and Iran, which will form part of the larger North-South corridor. The project, worth €1.6 billion, will provide a seamless route to the Persian Gulf ports. Under the terms of the agreement, both Russia and Iran will share the costs of designing, constructing, and providing the necessary goods and services for the railway.

Jalali also highlighted other significant routes within the North-South Corridor. He referred to the eastern route, which connects Russia, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan to Iran. This route, launched in 2023, has already shown promising results.

“We set a target of transporting up to two million tonnes of cargo in 2024, and we are pleased to report that we’ve already transported 1.8 million tonnes,” said Jalali. He projected that in 2025, this route could handle up to three million tonnes of cargo, noting that its total potential capacity is 15 million tonnes annually.

Furthermore, Jalali discussed another key segment of the North-South Corridor, which involves a middle route through the Caspian Sea. “In 2024, we transported more than 8 million tonnes of cargo via the Caspian route,” he added, calling the result “very good data.”

With these ongoing efforts, Iran is working to strengthen its position as a crucial player in global trade through the North-South Transport Corridor, which aims to connect major economic hubs across the region.

By Tamilla Hasanova