This important project will strengthen the international north-south transport corridor and boost trade and connectivity across Eurasia.
Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development Farzane Sadegu met with Russian Transport Minister Vladimir Starvoid on Tuesday for a bilateral discussion on expanding transportation cooperation, according to Mehr’s news agency.
Welcoming the Russian delegation, Minister Sadegu said that regular meetings between the two countries are essential to accelerating the shared goals in completing the North-South Corridor.
She highlighted the ongoing third Caspian Economic Forum, hosted by Iran, with Russian participation, as a pivotal moment for economic, trade and transport cooperation between Caspian countries.
During the meeting, both sides signed the Roadmap for Joint Transport and Transport Cooperation for 2025 and the Annex on Engineering Research for the Rasht-Astara Railway Project. Sadegh expressed optimism that the final construction contract for the railway will be signed by March 2025 once financial and technical details are finalized.
Sadegh confirmed that the Rasht-Astara Railway’s land acquisition is progressing rapidly and is expected to be completed within a year. She welcomed the announcement by Russian President Vladimir Putin. President Vladimir Putin approved the launch of engineering research before finalizing the timeline for land acquisition. “This decision by President Putin will significantly accelerate the Rasht-Astara railway project,” she noted.
Russian Minister of Transport Vladimir Starvoid has approved the Iranian proposal and proposed to form a Caspia transport consortium. The Iranian minister welcomed the idea and said Iran and Russia should take the lead in implementing the initiative.
At the end of the session, both ministers formally signed the 2025 Transit Roadmap and the Engineering Annex to the Rasht-Astara Railway Project, marking a milestone in their strategic partnership.
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