The Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development and Managing Director of the Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO), Saeid Rasouli, underscored Iran’s pivotal role as a transit gateway for Central Asian countries during the inaugural Summit of Governors of Caspian Coastal Provinces, an event initiated by the Islamic Republic of Iran and held in Rasht.

The two-day summit, convened under the theme “Caspian: A Bridge of Friendship and Regional Development,” brought together senior Iranian officials, foreign delegations, and governors of key coastal provinces. Rasouli said the PMO is using the gathering as an opportunity to advance bilateral and multilateral maritime and port cooperation with Caspian littoral neighbors.

Rasouli highlighted growing interest from neighboring states in using Iranian territory for transit and investing in Iranian ports. He announced that Kazakhstan is expected to sign a new agreement at Shahid Rajaee Port in the near future.

He also referenced last year’s comprehensive transport cooperation roadmap signed by Iran and Russia, spanning maritime, rail, road, and air sectors, and designed to bring transport collaboration to its highest level by 2025. The two countries have since agreed to establish a joint Caspian maritime consortium, with a recent meeting in Makhachkala producing significant progress. The consortium’s cooperation framework for cargo and passenger transport is expected to be finalized within a month.

The two sides have set a target of handling 5 million tons of cargo annually via the Caspian Sea, an objective that Rasouli described as ambitious but attainable if both countries expand port capacities, storage infrastructure, and fleet readiness.

Addressing environmental challenges, Rasouli stressed the need for coordinated regional action against declining Caspian Sea water levels—a phenomenon threatening coastal ports and berths. He reaffirmed Iran’s determination to pursue technical and managerial measures to safeguard maritime operations and continue developing cargo, passenger, and tourism capacities in the region.

Rasouli also emphasized the strategic importance of maritime development for Iran’s economy, noting national directives and provisions in the Seventh Development Plan that prioritize maritime expansion. Strengthening cooperation with neighboring countries, he said, aligns with the government’s broader agenda to stimulate trade and regional integration.

He further noted that ports in Gilan Province remain well-equipped and operational despite water-level concerns. Additional dredging and infrastructural measures are being implemented in other ports to maintain navigability.

Rasouli concluded that for Iran to maximize its role in the North–South Corridor and surrounding trade routes, the country must ensure that transport through Iran is both time-efficient and cost-competitive compared with alternative regional pathways.