TEHRAN — Iran has completed the acquisition of land along the planned 162-kilometer Rasht–Astara railway and is preparing for final approval of an agreement needed to begin construction with Russia, an Iranian transport official said.
Houshang Bazvand, Iran’s deputy minister of roads and urban development, said the unresolved land issue had been one of Moscow’s main concerns about the project.
According to Bazvand, Russia had linked the move toward practical implementation to completion of the land-acquisition process and legal approval of the agreement in Iran.
Decision Expected Within Months
The agreement is now being reviewed by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. Bazvand said he expected a decision within the next several months at the latest.
Once the agreement is approved, Tehran plans to begin building the line jointly with Russia. If the two countries do not agree on that arrangement, Iran could proceed with the project on its own, he said.
Why the Railway Matters to Azerbaijan
The Rasht–Astara line is intended to fill the missing rail link on the western branch of the International North–South Transport Corridor. The route connects Russia’s railway network with Azerbaijan and continues through Iran toward ports on the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean.
Completion of the land procedures does not mean construction will begin immediately. Approval of the agreement and the signing of an implementation contract remain the next major steps.
Source: Vesti Baku