Tehran, April 5 (MRUD NEWS)—Iran's negotiations with Russia for financing completion of Rasht-Astara Railway will be finalized in May, Abbas Khatibi, deputy at Construction and Development of Transpiration Infrastructures Company informed. 

Along the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) in Iran, the most important railway project is the 162-km Rasht-Astara Railway which is the missing link along the route and its completion is vital for the rail transit.

Iran will use credit line offered by Russia in the form of loan to complete Rasha-Astara Railway, Khatibi added. 

As Azerbaijan is a transit country in this partnership, there will be a trilateral agreement between Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia, he further pointed out. 

Previously in March, Iran deputy transport minister, Shahriyar Afandizadeh, had informed of considering the initial draft of the agreement for completion of Rasht-Astara Railway Project proposed on the part of Russia through the two ministries of Roads and Urban Development and Economic Affairs and Finance.

As part of developing the railway network, Iran will add 400 km railway to its network in 2023. In 2022, 200 km railway were added to the railway network, Khatibi mentioned.