President Masoud Pezeshkian says Iran is determined to implement an agreement with Russia to complete the North-South Transport Corridor.

Pezeshkian made the remarks in a meeting with a Russian delegation, headed by Russian Deputy Prime Minister for Transport Vitaly Gennadyevich Savelyev, in Tehran on Monday.

He said the implementation of the Rasht-Astara railway section under the North-South international transport corridor project is among Iran’s priorities.

“Iran is committed to the provisions of this agreement and the Russian side can begin mapping the route and prepare the implementation of the project as soon as possible.” 

He said the Iranian government puts emphasis on the implementation of the agreement and the country’s minister of roads and urban development is pursuing the issue.

The 162-kilometer Rasht-Astara railway is a strategic transport corridor that will connect the Iranian city of Rasht, near the Caspian Sea, to Astara on the border with Azerbaijan. 

The project, which is aimed at integrating the transport and information routes of Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran and India, is carried out within the framework of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).

Savelyev, for his part, said Russia is resolute on implementing the Rasht-Astara railway and has granted the necessary credit line.

Russia is cooperating with Azerbaijan to complete the North-South Corridor and calls on Iran to implement it, he added.

He noted that Russia and Azerbaijan have agreed to modernize the part of this railway located on their territory and also ask Iran to help make the necessary arrangements to update and renovate the project inside the country.

The Russian official hailed his country’s growing cooperation with Iran in the transport section.

It is expected that the two countries would transfer 15 million tonnes of goods with the implementation of the Rasht-Astara railway, he noted.

Savelyev also invited the Iranian president to travel to Russia early in 2025 and said Russia is making the arrangements for the trip and the agreements that would be signed between the two sides.

Russia, Iran discussing timeframe for start of work on Rasht-Astara railway section: Savelyev

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Savelyev said the talks during the Russian delegation’s visit to Tehran are expected to enable each of the two sides to take the next step in mutual development.

“Iran is our strategic partner, above all else, and we undoubtedly have a lot of joint issues that we are going to discuss: in the sphere of sea transport, in the sphere of motor transport, railway transport, and air communication.”

He expressed hope that the two countries “can find solutions and will continue solving those issues that were signed in 2023 – an agreement, an intergovernmental agreement.”

According to earlier reports, Russia will provide an interstate loan of 1.3 billion euros for the railway construction. The total value of the project was estimated at 1.6 billion euros at the moment the agreement was signed.

“The loan is ready, there are issues we need to discuss with the Iranian side. The financing has been opened de facto; everything has been agreed upon, the question is when we will begin. We will discuss this,” Savelyev said.