Russia and Iran agree on rail line to rival Suez Canal. On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi signed a contract to fund and develop an Iranian railway line as part of the North–South Transport Corridor.
The Rasht-Astara railway connects India, Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan, and other nations via train and sea, a route Russia claims can rival the Suez Canal as a worldwide commercial route.
Putin said the Rasht-Astara railway would be part of the unique North-South transport network, diversifying global traffic patterns.
He added that the 162 km (100 miles) railway along the Caspian Sea coast would link Russian Baltic Sea ports to Iranian Indian Ocean and Gulf ports.
“Undoubtedly, this agreement is an important and strategic step in the direction of cooperation between Tehran and Moscow,” Raisi added.
Russia and Iran have strengthened their political and economic connections due to Western economic sanctions, which they argue are unjustifiable.
Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution overthrew U.S.-backed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Iran has been shunned by the West and hampered by sanctions. Yet, 25% of the Middle East’s oil reserves are there.
Russia was sanctioned for its actions in Ukraine, and the West similarly restricted Iran’s nuclear program.
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