Iranian Ambassador to Russia: Rasht-Astara Railway to Be Placed at Russia's Disposal

The Iranian Ambassador to Russia announced that the land acquisition process required for the construction of the 162-kilometer Rasht-Astara railway has been completed, and that these lands will soon be placed at the disposal of the Russian side to begin executive operations.

Kazem Jalali raised the matter during the online scientific conference titled "Iran-Russia Cooperation in a Changing World," stating: "With the completion of this stage, one of Iran's most important infrastructural projects within the framework of the International North-South Transport Corridor will enter the executive phase." He also pointed to his recent negotiations with Russia's Deputy Minister of Transport to accelerate the start of construction operations.

According to the official plan, the Rasht-Astara rail route is designed as the missing link of the western branch of the North-South Corridor, aiming to connect Iran's rail network to the Republic of Azerbaijan and, subsequently, to Russia.

The Rasht-Astara railway project has been raised for years as one of Iran's strategic transport initiatives. This 162-kilometer route is considered the final segment completing the North-South Corridor along the western coast of the Caspian Sea.

According to reports published in domestic media, including Mehr News Agency and Eghtesad Online, a significant portion of the lands along the route has been acquired and cleared so far, and the project has been pursued in recent years with Russia's financial and technical participation as part of the two countries' joint transport initiatives.

This corridor, founded in 2000 between Iran, Russia, and India, was designed to reduce the time and cost of cargo transit between Asia and Europe, and experts consider it a potential rival to routes such as the Suez Canal for regional freight transport.