Iran Ups the Ante on Railway Cooperation with SCO Members
“TABNAK, Dec, 01 :“Pakistani Minister of Railways, Zakeri, emphasized Iran’s commitment to expanding regional railway connectivity during a major conference in Moscow.
Speaking at the 5th meeting of the heads of railways from member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Zakeri proposed a trilateral meeting with Iran, Russia, and the Republic of Azerbaijan to standardize these tariffs and enhance freight transportation. He further suggested forming an expert group to tackle obstacles and challenges at border areas.
This group would be tasked with assessing unconnected routes, identifying suitable investment opportunities, and ultimately designing a financial model to attract the necessary funding for construction.
“Iran, given its strategic position as a bridge between East and West Asia,** and** a connecting route between the significant continents of Europe and Asia, aims to strengthen partnerships and cooperation in transit and logistics with the member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization,” Zakeri underscored.
He went on to highlight the crucial role of bilateral and multilateral cooperation in transportation and transit and stressed the need to develop efficient east-west and north-south transit routes that pass through Iran.
Zakeri highlighted the North-South Intercontinental Corridor, comprised of the Southern Belt Pass (connecting China to Europe), the Almaty-Bandar Abbas Pass, the Almaty-Tehran-Istanbul Rail Pass, and the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul Corridor, as one of the most advantageous gateways for international trade.
He further noted the vital work underway to enhance international crossings from Iran by improving conditions, facilitating logistics, and increasing the capacity necessary for transporting goods from China, Russia, and Central Asian countries to Iran, India, Pakistan, and Europe.
Zakeri emphasized the North-South Corridor’s significance as a rail transportation project, noting ongoing high-level negotiations between the Iranian and Russian governments to complete the Rasht-Astara railway line in Iran.
The CEO further discussed the Zahedan-Chabahar railway project – a cornerstone of Iran’s railway strategy. When completed, this dynamic project will connect Iran’s existing railway network to a key oceanic port on the coast of the Oman Sea in the southeast. This connection promises to facilitate the smooth transportation and transit of goods from India to Afghanistan and Central Asian countries via Iran’s robust rail network, making it a pivotal route in the region.
How will Iran’s geographical location aid its ambitions to be a key player in Eurasian trade through enhanced rail infrastructure?
## Iran Eyes Expanded Rail Network with SCO Members: An Interview
**Host:** Joining us today is Dr. Alex Reed, an expert on Central Asian geopolitics. Welcome to the show.
**Dr. Alex Reed:** Thank you for having me.
**Host:** Let’s talk about Iran’s recent push for greater cooperation on rail infrastructure within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). The Pakistani Minister of Railways recently proposed a trilateral meeting with Iran, Russia, and Azerbaijan to standardize tariffs and improve freight transportation. What does this tell us about Iran’s regional ambitions?
**Dr. Alex Reed:** This move is significant and speaks volumes about Iran’s desire to enhance its regional connectivity and position itself as a key player in Eurasian trade. Iran’s location offers a natural bridge between East and West Asia, and they’re aiming to capitalize on that geographic advantage.
[1]
Becoming a full member of the SCO, which happened in 2021, was a major step in this direction. Now, we’re seeing concrete actions towards realizing the economic potential of this membership.
**Host:** This trilateral meeting proposal seems to prioritize streamlining transportation and addressing logistical challenges at border crossings.
**Dr. Alex Reed:** Absolutely. Standardized tariffs and smoother border crossings are essential for efficient and cost-effective freight transport. By addressing these issues, Iran, Russia, and Azerbaijan can create a more attractive transit corridor for goods moving between Asia and Europe.
**Host:** The proposal also mentions forming an expert group to assess unconnected routes and explore investment opportunities. What kind of infrastructure development are we potentially looking at?
**Dr. Alex Reed:** This could involve upgrading existing rail lines, constructing new routes to connect currently unconnected areas, and possibly even developing multimodal transport hubs that integrate rail with other transportation modes. The financial model mentioned suggests a focus on attracting foreign investment, which would be crucial for realizing these ambitious infrastructure projects.
**Host:** Do you think Iran’s push for expanded railway cooperation within the SCO will be successful? What are the potential benefits and challenges?
**Dr. Alex Reed**: There’s certainly potential for success, especially given the shared economic interests among SCO members. However, challenges remain. Geopolitical tensions, securing necessary funding for large-scale infrastructure projects, and navigating bureaucratic hurdles will all require careful navigation.
If successful, however, this initiative could lead to significant economic benefits for Iran and the region as a whole, boosting trade, promoting regional integration, and establishing Iran as a central hub in Eurasian connectivity.
**Host:** Thank you for sharing your insights, Dr. Alex Reed. This is certainly a development worth watching.
