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Russia Advances Rail Project With Iran and Azerbaijan
Russian officials said work on the Rasht-Astara rail section is moving forward after land allocation was completed. The 7,200-kilometer corridor aims to link Russia with Indian ports and reduce reliance on maritime routes.
Jul 18, 7:35 AM·1m read1 source
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Iran has finished land allocation for the Rasht-Astara railway section, allowing construction to begin on the final missing link of the International North-South Transport Corridor. Lavrov made the remarks during a press conference after talks with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov.
He said railway officials from the three countries have discussed practical steps to start work and that progress is expected.
The corridor runs about 7,200 kilometers from St.
Petersburg to Mumbai. Russia and Iran signed an agreement in May 2023 to build the Rasht-Astara section at an estimated cost of 1.6 billion euros, with 1.3 billion euros provided as a Russian loan. Lavrov noted the project gains importance amid ongoing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. He said the global economy and transport routes are suffering from the situation.
The New York Times reported that U.S. airstrikes this week struck bridges, rail lines, power and water facilities in Iran and elsewhere in the Middle East. Some damaged rail lines and bridges were restored within 40 to 96 hours using domestic teams. Russian media reported that one rail bridge reopened four days after damage from an airstrike.
