The long-awaited Rasht-Astara railway project, a key component of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), is expected to enter the construction phase in the near future.

Jabar Ali Zakeri, head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways, said that work on the project will begin once the acquisition of all land plots along the route is completed, The Caspian Post reports via Mehr news agency.

The 162-kilometer Rasht-Astara railway is considered one of the most important missing links in the North-South transport corridor, which aims to connect Iran's southern ports with the railway networks of the South Caucasus, Russia, and Europe.

The project is expected to significantly enhance regional trade by creating a continuous rail connection from the Persian Gulf to northern markets.

In 2023, Russia and Iran signed an agreement to jointly develop the Rasht-Astara section as part of the broader North-South Corridor initiative. The project, valued at approximately €1.6 billion, will be jointly financed by Moscow and Tehran, covering design, construction, and the supply of goods and services.