Armenia Seeks Stronger Rail and Trade Cooperation with Iran

Armenia's Ambassador to Iran, Grigor Hakobyan, has expressed his country's interest in expanding cooperation with Tehran in the railway and trade sectors. He made the remarks during a meeting with Jabar Ali Zakeri, deputy minister of roads and urban development and CEO of Iran Railways, according to a report by Mehr News Agency.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed the railway infrastructure of both Iran and Armenia and explored opportunities for expanding regional transport and economic ties. Ambassador Hakobyan underlined that linking the two countries' rail networks would give Armenia access to southern international waters and diversify Iran's routes to Europe.

Zakeri underscored the need for greater Armenian participation in regional transit routes, particularly the International North-South Transport Corridor, saying that Armenia can help boost regional rail transit. The railway link between Iran and Armenia through Syunik is among the infrastructure projects being pursued by Tehran and Yerevan to expand trade and regional transit.

The discussions reflect ongoing efforts by both countries to strengthen bilateral cooperation in transport and trade. The International North-South Transport Corridor is a multi-modal route designed to connect India, Iran, Armenia, and Russia, among others, to enhance trade connectivity. Armenia's involvement in this corridor is seen as a key factor in boosting regional transit.

According to Mehr News Agency, the meeting between Ambassador Hakobyan and Zakeri focused on practical steps to advance these infrastructure projects and deepen economic ties between Tehran and Yerevan.