BAKU, Azerbaijan - Azerbaijan and Iran have agreed to accelerate work on shared border and transport infrastructure, including the North-South corridor, the Aghband-Kelaleh road bridge and the Astara freight terminal.
The projects were reviewed by the co-chairs of the countries’ intergovernmental commission: Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev and Iranian Roads and Urban Development Minister Farzaneh Sadegh.
The officials assessed implementation of decisions adopted at the commission’s 17th meeting in Baku on Feb. 17 and discussed ways to speed projects involving trade, transport, communications and humanitarian cooperation.
Bridge Completed, Border Facilities Next
Construction of the Aghband-Kelaleh road bridge has been completed. Azerbaijan and Iran are now discussing the border-crossing infrastructure needed to put the connection into operation.
The officials also reviewed work to complete the Astara freight terminal and expand its cargo-handling capacity. The terminal is a key part of the International North-South Transport Corridor.
More than 537,000 metric tons of cargo passed through Azerbaijan Railways’ Astara terminal in Iran from January through August 2026, about 30% more than during the same period a year earlier, according to Azerbaijan Railways data reported by APA.
Mustafayev and Sadegh reaffirmed their intention to implement the commission’s decisions and move the projects forward. Their discussions followed a Sept. 7 telephone call in which the same transport priorities were reviewed.
Source: Vesti Baku; APA