A Russian-standard gauge railway will connect the Iranian city of Parsabad on the border with Azerbaijan with the largest Iranian port of Bandar Abbas on the Persian Gulf coast, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said.

“The expansion of railways from north to south benefits the people and economy of the country and can meet the economic needs of Russia and Iran,” said Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Earlier, Russia and Iran signed an agreement on the joint construction of the Rasht-Astara railway section. This route will connect the land sections of the international North-South transport corridor, which can become an alternative to the Suez Canal. Construction will begin in 2025 and will last three years.

KRISTALL OF GROWTH previously informed that the development and implementation of a new spatial development strategy, taking into account the tasks of large-scale development of the territory of Russia, advanced infrastructure development, and the development of new international transport corridors on the Eurasian continent, have been proposed among the long-term priorities of government activities.