INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Since the inception of the New Government in Iran in August 2021, transport policy of Iran has actively focused on close transport
cooperation with the neighboring countries to enhance regional connectivity.As part of its transport policy, recent transport developments
advanced by Iran Ministry of Transport and Urban Development in relation with 15 neighboring countries are outlined in the following
Iran and Kazakhstan have officially launched a rail transit link that will boost freight transport between Asia and Europe amid turbulent
time in the region.Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran (KTI) Railway Corridor is being operated in June 2022 and the first freight train arrived in
Tehran on June 19.Via this corridor, part of the cargo passing through the China-Russia-Europe railway corridor will be transported through
Iran along the China-Kazakhstan-Iran-Europe railway corridor.Back in November 2021, Iran, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan had signed a
tripartite MoU on railroad cooperation
The MoU was negotiated and agreed upon on the sidelines of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) summit.Increased rail transit through
Iran's gateway to Central Asia During the 16th Iran-Turkmenistan Joint Economic, Scientific, Commercial, Technical, and Cultural
Commission held in October 2021 in Tehran, Iran's transport minister and Turkmen foreign minister who chaired the commission signed a
comprehensive MoU which included rail transit and road freight.Afterward in June 2022, the high-ranking transport officials of Iran and
countries have taken practical steps to renew their relations which has led to a 50 percent increase in transit.Following the negotiations,
rail transit through Sarakhs Border Terminal has increased to 200 wagons per day which has the capacity for increase by 400 wagons
Similarly, Incheh Borun Border Terminal has the capacity to transit 50 to 200 wagons per day.The cooperation of Iran and Turkmenistan will
ease transit along East-West and North-South transport corridors, particularly through the new alternative route of
during the visit of Iran Minister of Transport and Urban Development, Rostam Ghasemi, with Kyrgyzstan Minister of Economy and Commerce,
Daniyar Amangeldiev, Iran and Kyrgyzstan considered possibilities of rail transit from Bandar Abbas to Kyrgyzstan considering existing
agreement with Turkmenistan.With regard to the recent membership of Iran in Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Iran can use Kyrgyzstan
as a Corridor to the countries in the SCO region and similarly Kyrgyzstan can access eastern and southeastern countries via Iran.Iran,
Tajikistan's renewed ties activates KTAI Transport Corridor Iran and Tajikistan have resumed their relations following the visits of the
two countries' Presidents in September 2021 during SCO summit in Dushanbe and also in May 2022 in Tehran
Subsequently, in June 2022, the Tajik delegation to Iran discussed with Iran's transport officials the proposals for promoting bilateral
and multilateral transport ties via different transport modes.In close cooperation with other involving countries including Afghanistan and
Turkmenistan, facilitation of transit along Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan-Afghanistan-Iran (KTAI) transport corridor as well as ECO corridors are on
priority in the bilateral relations.In doing so, the proposal for holding a transport committee would be a practical solution to ease the
access of the landlocked Tajikistan to the high seas through the Chabahar Port (to the south) and Amirabad Port (to the north)
for investment in Chabahar Port had been the key linchpin for the two countries' collaboration.This is particularly important for the
land-locked Uzbekistan to link to the high seas and India through the only ocean port of Iran and advance trilateral cooperation with Iran
and India.Chabahar-Zahedan Railroad, as the missing part of eastern railway transport corridor within Iran, is attractive for investors from
In this sense, Uzbekistan officials consider linking Chabahar Port to the rail network and also forming a logistic center for packing
export/import goods at this Port.The commercial turnover between Uzbekistan and India has considerably increased in the last year up to 251
million tons that is expected to increase fourfold.Joint infrastructural project to facilitate trade and transit Iran and Azerbaijan analyze
possibility of a road link between Nackchivan and Azerbaijan through Iran's territory that was previously agreed during the 15th Iran,
at the border of the two countries was signed by Kheirollah Khademi, Iran Deputy Minister of Transport, and Rahman Hummatov, Deputy Minister
of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan
The construction of the bridge over Astarachay River is expected to finish by the end of the year.Also, in the bilateral talks, the
Astara-Astara rail dock project has been on agenda.Iran to have direct access to Yerevan Iran and Armenia are participating in completing
the southern part of the strategically important Tatev Road in the Sisian (southern Armenia) to Nurduz in Iran as an alternative route to
Goris-Kapan Road which would bypass Azerbaijan territory.Moreover, Iran expressed readiness to export technical and engineering services to
Armenia by Iranian contractors and companies for completing the construction of the above-mentioned Corridor stretching from Nurduz to
Yerevan with higher productivity.Georgia key point along the Persian Gulf-Black Sea Corridor In December 2021, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Georgia
successfully transited a trial run road freight fleet from Iran (Bileh Savar border terminal in northwestern Ardabil Province in Azerbaijan)
In the trial run, the loading of exported goods was in Iran and the destination was Europe.Linking the Persian Gulf to the Black Sea is
among the key plank of connectivity programs attempted by Georgia, Azerbaijan and Iran due to the proximity to three important seas in the
region.Thus, Iran is seeking to initiate the 'Persian Gulf-Black Sea Corridor' strategic transport corridor alongside other existing
The Corridor links the Indian Ocean and East Asia to Europe through the member countries of the agreement including Iran, Azerbaijan,
Armenia, Georgia, Bulgaria, and Greece.Above all, the multimodal Persian Gulf-Black Sea Corridor Agreement will diversify Iran's transport
corridors for transit from East and Southeast Asia including China, India, and the Persian Gulf states to the Caucasus and Europe and secure
Iran's interests economically and geopolitically.Table 1
Iran's transport ties northwardsThe Northern Neighbors Ties/agreementsdateTurkmenistan Opening of Sarakhs and Incheh Borun BorderJune
2022Uzbekistan Possible investments in Chabahar PortJanuary 2022Kazakhstan Launching KTI railway CorridorJune 2022Kyrgyzstan Possibility of
rail transit from Bandar Abbas to KyrgyzstanNovember 2021Tajikistan Decision to form transport committee to ease transit and trade25 June
2022Azerbaijan Possibility of a road link between Nackchivan and Azerbaijan through Iran's territoryAstara-Astara rail dock
services by Iranian companies to Azerbaijan's territoryMay 2022January 2022Armenia Construction of Tatev RoadSince October 2021Georgia
Joint initiation of the Persian Gulf-Black Sea CorridorFebruary 2022The ECO train along ITI Railway Corridor resumed operation After almost
two years hiatus, Iran's trucks resumed transit from Mirjaveh Border to Pakistan's territory
Previously, during two years of covid-19 pandemic, Iran's trucks were allowed to transit through Mirjaveh border crossing just up to
Taftan custom; however, from February 25 onwards Iranian trucks resumed transit directly to Pakistan's territory
Currently, more than 150 trucks transit through Mirjaveh Border to Pakistan per day.Moreover, The Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO)
freight train resumed its operation along the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul (ITI) Corridor and arrived in Iran in December 27, 2021 from
Mirjaveh Border and then after transshipment entered Istanbul through Razi Border crossing.ECO train as the most effective mode of transport
for freight transfer can play an important role in expanding export and commercial transactions between the member
estimated to be less than half.Operation of this corridor lead to the increased regional connectivity and will boost economic activities in
the region.The Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul railway project was inaugurated with the first freight train moving on 22 December 2021 during a
transport cooperation with Afghanistan is within the framework of transit corridors particularly Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan-Afghanistan-Iran
Afghanistan including technical, engineering, and training services based on technical needs of Afghanistan.Table 2
Iran's transport ties eastwardsThe Eastern Neighbors Ties/agreementsdatePakistan Direct shipment of Iran's road freights to Pakistan
Railroad marks a historical link Iran and Iraq transport cooperation had been mainly in the rail transport when Iran and Iraq top officials
signed the agreement for Shalamcheh-Basra Railroad in December 2021.The negotiations for 32 km railroad between Iran and Iraq had been
ongoing for last 20 years; however, they had not come into conclusion until recently
Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul (ITI) Corridor which was successfully resumed its operation in December 2021.The ECO meeting acknowledged the
activation of the ITI Corridor and emphasized removal of the impediments for regularization of this Corridor during the 11th Economic
Cooperation Organization (ECO) Ministerial Meeting on Transport hosted virtually by Turkey in February 2022
In the ECO meeting, the member states called for promoting ECO's intra-regional and inter-regional connectivity including extension of the
ITI Corridor to Europe and China.For the road link, construction of Urmia-Serow Highway in the West Azerbaijan Province in Iran as part of
the country's west road network plays an important role in developing economic transactions and freight and passenger transit between Iran
The 51 km long highway is expected to be inaugurated this year in the next few weeks
Iran's transport ties westwardsThe Western Neighbors Ties/agreementsdateTurkey Negotiations for promoting regional connectivity during the
11th ECO ministerial meeting hosted by TurkeyUrmia-Serow HighwayFebruary 20222022Iraq Agreement for Shalamcheh-Basra RailroadDecember 26,
agreements.Iran and Qatar transport ministers, Rostam Ghasemi and Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti, met both in Doha and Kish island to arrange
for the FIFA World Cup 2022 to be held in Qatar from November 21 to December 18.Iran's potentials in Bushehr and Hormozgan Provinces,
particularly Kish Island, can support Qatar in the World Cup 2022.In this sense, four agreements were reached in Doha in February during the
official visit of Iran President to Qatar
Afterwards in April, details of cooperation in six areas were signed in Kish.The agreements include launching regular shipping lines between
the ports of the two countries and proposal for construction of an undersea tunnel between Iran and Qatar.The aforementioned project is a
huge connectivity project that stretches from Deyr Port (in Bushehr) to Qatar and will link Qatar to the northern countries, Europe, the
countries on the Caspian region, and Southwest Asia.Iran, Oman initiate unprecedented maritime transport In February, Iran and Oman signed a
MoU during 19th meeting of Joint Economic Committee in order to promote economic ties and maritime trade through Chabahar Port
The MoU reached in Muscat between Seyed Reza Fatemi Amin, Iran Minister of Industry, Mines, and Trade, and Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef, Oman
Minister of Commerce and Industry.Within the framework of the MoU, the two sides emphasized on promoting economic ties and maritime trade
through Chabahar Port.Moreover, in May 2022, during the visit of Iran President with the Sultan of Oman, the two countries discussed
maritime transport between Bandar Abbas Port in Iran and the Port of Al Suwaiq in Oman and establishing a passenger ship between Chabahar
and Muscat.Easing traffic of Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines in the Ports of Salalah and Sohar in Oman is among other agendas for
joint cooperation.Oman is expected to join the trilateral Chabahar Agreement.UAE-Iran-Turkey Corridor boosts regional tradeTrucks transit
since late 2021 through ro-ro ferry from Sharjah to Bandar Abbas Port and then overland through Iran's multi-lane highways to the Turkish
Mediterranean Sea port of Mersin marked the opening of a strategic corridor that reduces transit time from 21 to 6 days generally for the
trip from the Arabian Peninsula to the Mediterranean.Above all, this will facilitate Iran's integration into the region and its active
role in the global trading system
This is also politically important as further economic integration will undermine the adverse effects of sanctions by the United States to
keep Iran isolated.Pakistan and Central Asian countries are also looking to the route through Iran for freight transfer.Table 4
Iran's transport ties southwardsThe Southern Neighbors Ties/agreementsdateQatar joint cooperation in six areas for the arrangements of the
World Cup 2022proposal for construction of an undersea tunnelApril 2022OmanPossible joining of Oman to trilateral Chabahar AgreementSigned
MoU during 19th meeting of Iran, Oman joint economic committeeMay 2022February 12UAETrucks transit from UAE to Turkey through Iran's
Corridor (INSTC) following the official launch of the eastern section of the Corridor by arrival of the first Russian rail freight transit
to India through Iran marks the most important development in Iran, Russia transport ties.The train left Russia from Chekhov on July 6 and
headed to India's Nhava Sheva Port
It entered in Iran on 12 July 2022 through Sarakhs Border after travelling 3800 kilometers through Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan
The train carrying 39 containers travelled 1600 km rail route in Iran southwards to Bandar Abbas Port.Basically, Iran's transport
relations with Russia are developed by some agreements signed during various mutual meetings
Quite recently, Iranian and Russian transport officials held the 13th Iran, Russia joint transport taskforce in Moscow from 27 to 29 June
after three years hiatus due to covid-19 pandemic
Top agendas in the taskforce meeting, which were headed by transport deputy transport ministers, were targeting 10 million tons freight
transit along the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), investment in logistics hubs in Shaheed Rajaee Port and Chabahar
Port by Russia to increase the capacity of freight transit along the INSTC, and joint rail projects including electrification of
Garmsar-Incheboroun and Rasht-Astara
encompasses rail, port and maritime cooperation
Transport Cooperation was signed in May in order to arrange the preparation for the next joint economic commission.Generally, the most
important agendas for bilateral transport cooperation are the 7200 km-long International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and
completion of Rasht-Astara Railroad which is a missing route along the INSTC and after completion of this railroad, northern Europe will be
connected to the Indian Subcontinent.The INSTC is an important transport agenda which is expected to considerably boost transit and trade of
Incheborun and Jolfa-Nakhchivan.Japan interested to invest in Shahid Rajaee PortIran and Japan negotiated for the maritime cooperation in
the Shahid Rajaee Port in Hormozgan Province.During the visit of Japanese ambassador to Tehran, Aikawa Kazutoshi, from Shahid Rajaee Port,
expansion of commercial transactions with Iran was discussed in which Shahid Rajaee Port can play an important role in development of trade
in the region.Eighty percent of Iran's transit is accomplished through Shahid Rajaee Port
The Port has many advantages and capacities including modern container equipment for 14000 TEU container ships, access to the railway
network, to the Bandar Abbas International Airport, and to the high seas.Shahid Rajaee Port is also important along North-South Transport
Corridor which maintains fast speed and great security for freight transit.The above sections outlined recent transport developments and
initiations of Iran with its neighbors during last year
Activation of international multimodal transport corridors has been the backbone for such developments
Launching Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran (KTI) Railway Corridor, facilitation of Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan-Afghanistan-Iran (KTAI) transport
corridor, trial test of the Persian Gulf-Black Sea Corridor, resumption of ECO freight along the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul (ITI) Corridor,
and increasing attempts for freight transit along the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) were among the most important
initiations.Iran's approach to advance an active transport diplomacy in the region is particularly important for reaping huge benefits of
transit, easing the flow of freight transfer regarding the new geopolitical order, and also circumventing adverse effects of sanctions
against Iran.The statistics in the performance reports also confirm the trend as within the period of March 2021 to February 2022, the
records witness 100 percent increase in the road transit, 177 percent increase in rail transit, and 12 percent increase in container
