Russia and Iran have signed a package of documents related to the construction of the Rasht-Astara railway line, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Andrey Nikitin told journalists.

"A package of documents on the Rasht-Astara railway line construction project was formalized in Tehran. Russia's Caspian Services and Iran's CDTIC signed a protocol granting access to land plots along the entire route for preliminary engineering surveys, as well as a supplemental agreement to the contract," Nikitin said, The Caspian Post reports, citing TASS.

He noted that the land plots had already been handed over. Russian specialists have established the backbone geodetic network and completed aerial surveys.

The Rasht-Astara section will link the railway networks of Russia and Iran into a unified system. It is a key component of the International North-South Transport Corridor, which will provide a seamless transport route to the Persian Gulf and further into South Asia.