Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development Farzaneh Sadegh said the long-awaited contract with Russia to complete construction work on the Rasht-Astara railway line is expected to be signed next month.
Underscoring the Iranian regime’s active diplomacy with its neighbors and the vital role of the transport sector in strengthening regional relations, Sadegh said he had visited the Republic of Azerbaijan and Pakistan in the past two weeks as part of a regional engagement framework.
The minister said the contract for the completion of the Rasht-Astara railway line is expected to be signed with Russia by next month.
He explained that the results of the talks in Baku, which focused on guaranteeing cargo transport through the International North-South Transport Corridor, particularly the missing link along the Rasht-Astara Railway, exceeded initial expectations.
Sadegh also referred to the meeting held in Pakistan and said three major issues were discussed, including the designation of Iran as a transit intermediary country between Pakistan and Eurasia-Caucasus countries, the identification of Pakistan as a connecting route between China and Iran, and the development of a framework for transporting Chinese goods towards Europe via Pakistan and Iran.
The minister concluded by saying that expanding road and rail infrastructure plays an important role in promoting regional development and strengthening Iran’s ties with neighboring countries.
MNA/TSN