Iranian Ambassador to Moscow Kazem Jalali said that Tehran and Moscow are planning to complete three different routes of the strategically significant International North-South Transit Corridor (INSTC).
Jalali made the remarks addressing the 27th International Exhibition for Transport and Logistics Services and Technologies – TransRussia 2023 – in Moscow on Tuesday.
Despite all the efforts made during the past years to complete the project, parts of the corridor have yet to be completed, the ambassador said, adding that Tehran and Moscow are now resolved to complete the project.
He said that the eastern part of the INSTC corridor is already operational while the railway needs to be strengthened in some parts which is on the agenda of both countries.
The Inchebron-Garmsar railway which is part of the eastern side of the corridor has to be electrified, Jalali said, noting that Iran and Russia are jointly pursuing the electrifying project of this railway.
Iranian Ambassador to Moscow Kazem Jalali is addressing the 27th International Exhibition for Transport and Logistics Services and Technologies – TransRussia 2023 – in Moscow, Russia, April 18, 2023.
The ambassador said that the second part of the corridor is a multimodal way of transport passing through the Caspian Sea.
The completion of this part requires further strengthening, development and renovation of the ports on both sides, he noted.
Referring to the third part of the corridor, which passes through Azerbaijan and Iran to link Russia to the Persian Gulf, the ambassador said that the 162km-long railway between Rasht and Astara in northern Iran has yet to be completed on this part of the project.
He said that Iran and Russia had good negotiations on the completion of Rasht-Astara railway in 2022 and earlier this year.
He also hailed a move by the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) to buy 53% shares of the Port of Salianka in Russia which he said is considered as a very good and active port.
The volume of Iran’s trade with Russia stood at $1.65 billion in 2019 while the figure has now grown to over $5 billion, the ambassador said.