• Ar
  • Es
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Feature
  • Videos
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Feature
Videos
Infographs
In Pictures
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. MENA Europe
  4. Iran, Russia sign $1.6bln agreement to build Rasht-Astara railway
MENA

Iran, Russia sign $1.6bln agreement to build Rasht-Astara railway

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 17 May 15:09
  • 3 Shares

The Iranian President describes the agreement as "a major and strategic development" in cooperation between Iran and Russia.

  • Iran, Russia sign $1.6 bn agreement to build Rasht-Astara railway
    Russian President Vladimir Putin, together with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, takes part in the ceremony of signing an agreement on the construction of the Rasht-Astara railway, via video link at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, May 17, 2023 (Sputnik)

Iran and Russia signed on Wednesday an agreement worth $1.6 billion to build the Rasht-Astara railway, a project in northern Iran that will be key to the transit of cargo through the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).

Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development Mehrdad Bazrpash and Russia’s Minister of Transport Vitaly Saveliev signed the agreement in Tehran in a ceremony that was attended by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.

Russian President Vladimir Putin attended via a video conference link.

According to the state-run Iranian news agency IRNA, the 162-kilometer railway will connect the Iranian city of Rasht near the Caspian Sea to Astara on the border with Azerbaijan.

The agency explained that once completed, the Rasht-Astara railway will allow rail freight transport from the Gulf to Helsinki in Finland via Russia's Saint Petersburg.

Raisi described the agreement as "a major and strategic development" in cooperation between Iran and Russia.

The Iranian President thanked his Russian counterpart for supporting the project, pointing out that the completion of the INSTC would benefit not only the two nations but also all countries in the region.

Read more: Russia interested in Iran aircraft industry experience under sanctions

On his part, Putin said the launch of the Rasht-Astara railway in Iran will allow diversifying global traffic flows, adding that such transportation will have competitive advantages.

The Russian President expressed Moscow's hope that the agreement between Russia, Iran, and Azerbaijan on cooperation in the development of railway and cargo transportation will be signed promptly.

He indicated that the INSTC corridor will play a major role in guaranteeing food security in Iran and countries in the Gulf region.

Putin highlighted that Russian-Iranian relations are at their highest level, emphasizing that Moscow pays special attention to ties with Tehran.

Elsewhere, the Russian President thanked Iranian leader Sayyed Ali Khamenei for his support for the growing ties between the two countries.

Read more: Region entered a new era of joint cooperation: Iran FM

  • Moscow
  • Ebrahim Raisi
  • Russia
  • Tehran
  • Rasht-Astara railway
  • Vladimir Putin
  • Iran

Trending Now

All
Tehran

Tehran stock exchange launches trading in Iranian rial, Russian ruble

Most Read

London posts job ad for mercenaries for Ukraine counteroffensive

London posts job ad for mercenaries for Ukraine's counteroffensive

  • Africa
  • 24 May
The Middle East Stabilises, Against the Backdrop of a Great Unravelling

The Middle East Stabilises, Against the Backdrop of a Great Unravelling

  • Analysis
  • 28 May
The domestically produced C919 passenger jet flies at the China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, Peoeple's Republic of China, 8 November 2022. (Reuters)

China is set to launch first commercial flight on its C919 plane

  • Asia
  • 26 May
Kissinger bears considerable culpability for assaults in Cambodia that killed as many as 150,000 civilians

Kissinger's secret war in Cambodia reveals mass killings: Intercept

  • Asia
  • 24 May

Read this

All
In this image released by the Italian firefighters, a helicopter searches for missing passengers after a tourist boat capsized in a storm on Italy's Lago Maggiore in the northern Lombardy region, May 28, 2023 (AP)
Europe

Top Israeli intelligence official dead in Italy: Israeli media

  • 29 May
The Global Campaign to the Return to Palestine honours several "Return Ambassadors" in Beirut, Lebanon, May 29 2023. (@return_ar/Twitter)
Palestine

GCRP honors 'Return Ambassadors' to Palestine in Beirut

  • Today
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, and Minister of Justice Yariv Levin attend a weekly cabinet meeting in the prime minister's office in occupied Al-Quds, occupied Palestine, May 28, 2023 (AP)
Palestine

Let AI replace Netanyahu's government, opposition's Lapid says

  • 29 May
In this picture released by the Iranian Defense Ministry on Thursday, May 25, 2023, Khorramshahr-4 missile is launched at an undisclosed location, Iran (Iranian Defense Ministry via AP)
MENA

Iran set to unveil its first ever hypersonic missile

  • 29 May
Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS