Iran will complete the allocation of land plots for the construction of the Rasht–Astara railway line by March 2026, according to Nikolai Udovichenko, Russia’s Special Envoy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and head of the Russian delegation at multilateral Caspian negotiations.
Speaking at the 3rd Caspian Digital Forum in Caspiyisk, Udovichenko said the update followed a recent trilateral meeting between representatives of Russia, Azerbaijan, and Iran.
The talks focused on the development of border infrastructure and progress in expanding the North–South International Transport Corridor, a project linking Russia, Azerbaijan, and Iran through a continuous rail and road network.
“The Iranian side has pledged to complete the transfer of land for this construction by March next year,” Udovichenko said.
“There is strong hope that in the near future we can move toward establishing a fully integrated corridor. We also expect progress in coordination among the customs and transport authorities of our three countries – possibly even the creation of a unified logistics operator.”
The Rasht–Astara railway, once completed, will close the final missing link in the North–South transport corridor, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Baltic Sea and providing a faster, cost-efficient trade route between India, Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, and Northern Europe.
