Russia Conducting Work on Iran’s Rasht-Astara Railway

Russia is carrying out survey work for the construction of the Rasht-Astara railway on land plots already purchased by the Iranian government, Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk has stated.

The purchase of the remaining land was the subject of negotiations during the meeting between Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan.

Overchuk said, “We discussed the details of the railway’s construction on the Rasht-Astara section and how the land acquisition is progressing there.” We have already started work there, with technical surveys underway on the land plots purchased by the Iranian government.”

The 164 km Rasht-Astara railway is a vital part of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), and delays in its completion are hindering the smooth transit of goods from Russia via Iran to the Middle East and South Asia.