The session was co-chaired by Azerbaijan’s Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk, and Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development Farzaneh Sadegh. High-ranking officials from relevant organizations from the three countries also participated.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev reaffirmed that Azerbaijan adheres to the principles of good neighborliness, mutual understanding and equal partnership in its relations with Iran and Russia. He expressed confidence that the multilateral cooperation between the three countries will continue to grow bilaterally and trilaterally and will be further enriched in new dimensions.
The trilateral cooperation format between Azerbaijan, Iran, and Russia was noted as being initiated by President Ilham Aliyev, and the first and second summit meetings between the three countries were held in Baku and Tehran, respectively. Discussions emphasized the importance of expanding trade, economic, transport and energy ties between countries.
Shahin Mustafayev emphasized the importance of promoting economic and trade cooperation based on equality and mutual benefit. He pointed to the important role of the Declaration of August 8, 2016 and the Joint Statement of November 1, 2017, signed by the Presidents of Azerbaijan, Iran and Russia, which laid the foundation for cooperation in economic development, safe and reliable regional and international transport corridors, and energy projects.
The meeting emphasized the strategic importance of cooperation in the fields of transport, energy and customs. Mr. Mustafayev recalled that in order to advance the North-South transport corridor, important agreements were signed between Iran and Russia on the construction of the Rasht-Astara railway in Iran, and between Azerbaijan and Russia on the development of transit freight transport along the corridor.
He said that after the modernization of the railway infrastructure, the annual volume of cargo transported through Azerbaijan is expected to reach at least 5 million tons from January 1, 2028, and with further agreements this figure is planned to increase to about 15 million tons. Mustafayev also noted the opening of the new Astarasay motor bridge and border crossing between Azerbaijan and Iran in December 2023, and the near completion of the southern freight terminal owned by Azerbaijan Railways in the Iranian city of Astara, both of which are important components of the north-south route.
The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that Azerbaijan’s victory in the Patriotic War and the liberation of occupied territories created new geopolitical realities and transportation and logistics opportunities in the region. Within this framework, he emphasized that the construction of the Agband Keraleh Bridge over the Araz River, an important element of the Araz Corridor, is underway, based on the intergovernmental memorandum signed between Azerbaijan and Iran in 2022. The bridge is expected to be completed by the end of this year, along with border and customs facilities early next year.
In addition, a highway and railway linking Holadiz and Agband is scheduled to be completed next year, linking east-west and north-south international transport corridors and creating a new branch link between the Persian Gulf and the Black Sea.
Speaking about the intermediate corridor, Mustafayev reported that cargo traffic via the route has increased by nearly 90% since 2022, and transit times have been significantly reduced.
Regarding energy cooperation, Mustafayev pointed out that Azerbaijan’s power grid is already separately connected to the Russian and Iranian power grids, allowing the exchange and trade of electricity. He added that integrating the three networks into a trilateral joint framework remains on the energy cooperation agenda.
He further emphasized that the implementation of transport initiatives requires prioritizing the simplification and digitalization of customs operations, and at the same time improving customs infrastructure.
The Deputy Prime Minister also announced that delegations from the three countries will jointly inspect key infrastructure facilities on the North-South International Transport Corridor on October 14.
Following the remarks of Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk and Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development Farzaneh Sadegh, the participants held an in-depth discussion on current issues in the fields of transport, energy and customs cooperation.
MNA/