Russia and Iran agree to build rail corridor to rival Suez Canal
On May 17, Russia and Iran signed an agreement to build a railway corridor that will compete with the Suez Canal as a major global trade route
Reuters reported that the signing of the agreement was watched by Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi via video link.
The Rasht-Astara railroad is seen as an important link in a corridor designed to connect India, Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan and other countries by rail and sea.
"The unique North-South transport artery, of which the Rasht-Astara railway will become a part, will help to significantly diversify global traffic flows," Putin said.
He also said that the 162-kilometre-long railroad along the Caspian Sea coast would help connect Russian ports on the Baltic Sea with Iranian ports in the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf.
"Without a doubt, this agreement is an important and strategic step in the direction of cooperation between Tehran and Moscow," Raisi said.
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Earlier, the media reported that Iran was delivering ammunition to Russia via the Caspian Sea.
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