On 22 July 2025, negotiations took place at the Astara border terminal under construction in Iran between the management of the Iranian Railways (RAI) and the Azerbaijani Railways (ADY), attended by representatives of the government and the state-owned company responsible for the construction and development of transport infrastructure, which is part of the RAI.
The parties discussed practical steps to complete the Astara terminal project in Iran, which is being implemented in accordance with the strategic cooperation plan signed in January 2025. Currently, 90% of the design work on the terminal has been completed, and approximately 75% of the construction and installation work. Construction work on the terminal, which will have a capacity of up to 3.5 million tonnes of cargo per year, is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
The parties noted the acceleration by the Iranian side of work related to the demarcation of the area for the Resht-Astara railway line, the construction of which, as a key link in the North-South International Transport Corridor (ITC), is of great importance to the company, according to RAI management. The development of the ITC provides Iran with a rail link to the ports of the Caspian Sea and the countries of Central Asia, contributing to regional economic growth.
