Iran and Kazakhstan are moving to institutionalize transport ties, with the two sides agreeing to draft a comprehensive logistics and infrastructure cooperation document and to push ahead with Caspian and rail routes linking Central Asia to Europe and Afghanistan.
At talks in Kazakhstan, Minister of Transport and Urban Development Farzaneh Sadegh and Kazakh Transport Minister Nurlan Sauranbayev reviewed the eastern route of the North-South Corridor, developed by Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan. Sadegh said implementing existing agreements and clearing obstacles are priorities, and presented proposals to activate the corridor’s eastern branch, raise transit capacity, link Chabahar Port to the rail network and develop the China-Kazakhstan-Iran-Europe route. A bilateral roadmap focused on Iran’s proposed corridors has been drafted and sent to Astana, she said, hoping it can be signed and implemented soon.
Accompanied by Iran Railways head Zakeri and Road Transport Organization head Akbari, Sadegh stressed the importance of land and rail transport and called for implementation of the revised protocol on international carriage of goods and passengers. She also invited Sauranbayev to the imminent inauguration of the Chabahar-Zahedan railway, saying links from Chabahar to Zahedan and Sarakhs would improve access to Afghanistan and northern Caspian states and create new transit and logistics opportunities.
Sauranbayev welcomed Iran’s proposals, said Kazakhstan is determined to expand transport relations and that the proposed roadmap is being finalized. He accepted the invitation and stressed diversifying rail and road networks, boosting trade exchanges and holding regional bilateral and multilateral meetings to strengthen logistics links toward Central Asia, the Caucasus and Europe.
The proposals signal a shared push to turn existing corridors into operational trade routes as regional economies seek faster and more diversified connections.
