Azernews.Az

TEHRAN – Transport officials of Azerbaijan, Russia and Iran have signed three cooperation agreements after talks in Tehran, including a trilateral deal on a key transport project that will link Asia and Europe, Iranian IRINN TV channel reported on Tuesday.

The agreement inked by all three countries envisions speeding the implementation of the North-South transport corridor project.

Another deal, inked by Iran and Russia, covers the construction of railroads and logistics cooperation as well as supplying the Tehran-Bandar-Abbas railway with electric power.

Under the other agreement, Azerbaijan and Iran pledged to cooperate in implementing railway projects.

Iranian Railways Department head Abdulali Sahib Mohammadi said after the signing that the signatories will cooperate in carrying out the construction of Rasht-Astara (Iran) - Astara (Azerbaijan) railway, which is a key part of the North-South project.

The North-South Transport Corridor envisions transporting freight by ship, rail and roads from South Asia to Europe through Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Russia. The route primarily involves moving goods from India via ship to Iran. From Iran, the freight moves by ship across the Caspian Sea or by truck or rail to southern Russia. From there, the goods are transported by truck or rail through Moscow to northern Europe. In 2001, Russia, Iran, and India signed an agreement to further develop the route.

According to Mohammadi, cargo is currently transported through the North-South route by sea, which takes as long as 45 days, but the term of transportation could be reduced to 25 days after the Iran-Azerbaijan railway has been built. He said one of the advantages of the transport corridor is that it will expedite the development of relations with European countries and allow to save 30 percent of transportation costs.

Iran’s Mehr news agency quoted the country’s Vice President Ali Agha Mohammadi as saying that the implementation of the North-South project will allow transporting 20 million tons of cargo per year by rail. Initially, 5 million tons of cargo per year are to be transported via the route.

Head of Azerbaijan Railways Arif Asgarov said that 17 countries are seeking to participate in the North-South project.