Baku, September 27, 2025
Iran has handed over 34 kilometers of land to Russia for the construction of the Rasht–Astara railway, a key missing link in the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC).
According to SNN, Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development Farzaneh Sadegh confirmed the transfer, saying it would allow the Russian side to begin work.
The full stretch of the Rasht–Astara line is 162 kilometers. Sadegh noted that nearly half of the required land has already been acquired for construction, and Tehran is working to complete the remaining purchases by the end of the Iranian calendar year in March 2026.
The Rasht–Astara railway is considered a strategic component of the INSTC, designed to connect Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, and India, and reduce transit times for cargo moving between South Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
