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Russia and Iran have signed documents allowing engineering surveys along the entire route of the Rasht-Astara railway. Russian company Caspian Services and Iran’s CDTIC signed a land-access protocol and an addendum to an existing contract in Tehran on Thursday, November 6, AnewZ reported.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Andrey Nikitin told journalists that transferring the land plots would allow expanded engineering surveys to continue and the scope of the required work to increase.
The 162-kilometer line will connect to the North-South corridor
The 162-kilometer railway will connect the railway networks of Russia and Iran. The line is part of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), which aims to channel freight toward the Persian Gulf and South Asia.
The agreement was signed after remarks made on October 19 by another Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Alexey Overchuk. Overchuk said at the time that Iran had completed acquiring the land needed for construction, while Moscow was awaiting documentary confirmation.
The project has repeatedly fallen behind schedule. Iran’s ambassador to Moscow, Kazem Jalali, said in September that a Russian contractor was conducting survey work on the Rasht-Astara section.
Jalali had earlier said the project was delayed because of Iran’s military conflict with the United States and Israel. The implementation agreement was initially due to be signed on April 1.
The railway is considered a missing link in the North-South corridor, designed to give Russia an alternative trade route toward the Persian Gulf and South Asia. The line between the northern Iranian city of Rasht and Astara on the Azerbaijan border will connect to the Russian network via the existing railway.
The parties have not announced when construction will begin or when the line is expected to be completed.
Putin and Rezaei discuss regional security
Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on Thursday, November 6. They discussed regional security, the war with the United States and bilateral cooperation, as well as plans to build a gas pipeline from Russia to Iran.
Iranian state media reported on Thursday that Rezaei delivered a message from the country’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, to Putin. The contents of the message were not disclosed.
Speaking about a possible agreement with Washington, Rezaei said Tehran had presented the United States with seven conditions. He added that Iran would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz or resume negotiations until Washington met those conditions.
