Iran and Armenia Agree to Boost Road Transport Cooperation

In line with the acceleration of regional transport diplomacy, a meeting was held on Wednesday evening between Iranian and Armenian officials to discuss ways to develop road transport cooperation. The meeting was attended by Armen Simonyan, Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Armenia, and Reza Akbari, Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development and Head of Iran Road Maintenance and Transport Organization. Representatives of the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development were also present.

During the talks, the two sides deliberated on ways to develop road transport cooperation, emphasizing their firm determination to strengthen transit infrastructure and remove existing obstacles. Akbari said a comprehensive draft of a memorandum of understanding has been prepared based on ministerial-level meetings, focusing on areas such as infrastructure development, removing obstacles to border traffic, reducing or eliminating tolls, and increasing the capacity of transit fleets through Iranian and Armenian territories.

Akbari emphasized the high capacity of Iran's trade exchanges with neighboring countries and noted that the Iran-Armenia-Georgia corridor can further boost regional trade connectivity. For her part, the Armenian deputy minister, while welcoming the expansion of economic and transportation cooperation with Iran, announced progress in infrastructure projects. Ghalechyan stressed that transit infrastructure and other measures being taken by Armenia would play an effective role in reducing drivers' problems, facilitating transit fleets, and improving border logistics.

The meeting underscores the commitment of both countries to enhance bilateral ties and regional connectivity, particularly in the context of the North-South Transport Corridor. According to Mehr News Agency, the discussions are part of broader efforts to accelerate regional transport diplomacy and strengthen economic cooperation between Iran and its neighbors.