photo: RZD / Public domain/Russian Railways
Iran and Russia are in the final stages of drafting a contract for constructing the Rasht-Astara Railway, cooperating despite the sanctions imposed to respond to the Russian war in Ukraine.
This railway is crucial for the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), enhancing connectivity between the two nations and extending towards India. According to NEWS.am, the discussions, held between Sergey Pavlov, Deputy Minister of Russian Railways, and Iran’s Ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, focused on finalizing the contract details and examining the progress within the INSTC framework. The project stretches across 162 km and aims to integrate road, rail, and sea routes, facilitating the transport of goods across the corridor.
According to the agreement, Russia is to invest EUR 1.6 billion to boost trade and transit capabilities amidst Western sanctions poised at both countries. For Iran, this connection will mean aligning India more closely to its regional interests, as the Rasht-Astara link, once operational, promises significant economic benefits for Iran and possible reshaping of regional transport dynamics.
During a recent high-level meeting, the discussions also tackled setting tariffs for transporting essential commodities like chemical fertilizers and coal from Russia and Iran onward to the United Arab Emirates and India.
Tags