Iran Purchases Major Portion of Railroad to Azerbaijan

Tehran has purchased more than 100 kilometers of the 160-kilometer Rasht-Astara railway connecting Iran and Azerbaijan, with hopes to complete the process by March 2026. This was announced by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during a forum dedicated to the 'International Year of Peace and Trust' in Turkmenistan.

The Iranian president noted that, regarding the Astara-Rasht route, they have already acquired 100 kilometers, possibly even 110 kilometers. 'We plan to have everything completed by the end of the year,' Pezeshkian stated during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the forum.

He emphasized that the project is under his direct attention and that he monitors the progress of the work on a daily basis.

It is worth recalling that in 2023, Russia and Iran agreed to jointly construct the 160-kilometer stretch of Rasht-Astara as part of the 'North-South' international transport corridor. The project aims to provide a continuous land link to the ports of the Persian Gulf.