Russian Railways

According to its Company Website, Iran is part of Russian Railways’ “North-South Corridor.” This corridor is “part of a strategic partnership with the countries to the south and [Russian Railways] duly signed an Intergovernmental Agreement on its construction with India and Iran in September, 2000.” 

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"Russian Railways OJSC plans to build and electrify the railway from Iran to Azerbaijan and further to Russia, RIA Novosti reported. The chairman of the State Duma Committee (lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia) on transport Evgeniy Moskvichev made the remarks commenting on the issues that will be discussed during the visit of the State Duma Speaker Sergey Naryshkin on November 16-17." (Trend, "Russia to build railway from Iran toward Azerbaijan," 11/17/14)

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"Russian Railways has signed a memorandum of understanding with Iranian Railways to expedite the implementation of rail projects in Iran. The 6th meeting of Iran-Russia transport cooperation working group was held in Tehran, Iran's Mehr news agency reported on August 27. Russian Railways agreed to expedite the implementation of the Garmsar-Incheborun railway project as well as the establishment of the Qazvin-Rasht-Astara railway which is intended to connect Iran's railway to Azerbaijan and Russia. The Qazvin-Rasht-Astara railway, with a length of 375km is currently the missing link in the North-South corridor, which, when completed, will extend from Northern Europe to Southeast Asia." (Trend, "Russia to expedite railway projects in Iran," 8/27/14)

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"Russian Railways company is holding talks with Iran to electrify 600 kilometers of railroads in the Islamic Republic, the company's deputy president announced. 'It is a concrete project, which was discussed with the Iranians literally last week,' Russian Railways deputy president Alexander Saltanov was quoted by the Moscow Times as saying. Delegations from Russian Railways and its subsidiary Russian Railways International will go to Iran 'in the near future' to work through the technical side of the venture, he added on Tuesday. The total cost of the project has not been determined, but could exceed 1 billion euros ($1.4 billion), Saltanov said." (Tasnim News, "Russian Railways to Electrify 600km of Iran’s Railroads," 7/9/14)

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“The president of Iranian Railways, Mohsen Pour Seyed Aqaei and chairman of the Council of the Board and president of Russian Railways JSC, Vladimir Yakunin discussed six rail projects, Iran's IRIB news agency reported on May 10. Heads of the railways of Iran, Russia, and Azerbaijan agreed that the Rasht-Astara railway to be built by Russia. Also, the Azerbaijani side will extend the railway from Iran-Azerbaijan border into Azerbaijan's territory. Mohsen Pour Seyed Aqaei said Iran is ready to revise transit tariffs in order to increase the volume of goods which are transited through the country. The 60th meeting of the Council on Rail Transport wrapped up on May 7, 2014 in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan. Iran requested the inclusion of Iran's railway administration as an associate member of the Council. Qazvin-Rasht-Astara railway in Iran will connect North Europe to Southeast Asia. Qazvin-Rasht-Astara railway, with a length of 375km, is intended to connect Iran's railway to Azerbaijan and Russia, Fars news agency quoted Iranian Railways Company's managing director Mohsen Pour Seyed Aqaei as saying on April 23…The railway is estimated to carry 1.4 million passengers and from five to seven million tonnes of cargo per year…The railway had been scheduled to be inaugurated this year, but the project is faced with a budget deficit, he added. If the financial problem is resolved, the railway will be inaugurated next year.” (Trend, “Russia to build railway in Iran,” 5/10/14)

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“Russia's economy chief on Wednesday announced plans to visit Iran amid reports of the two sides nearing a mammoth oil-for-goods deal that has raised consternation in the United States. Economy Minister Alexei Ulyukayev told Russian media his late April trip would focus on a ‘wide range of trade and economic issues’ but provided no further details.Moscow's Kommersant business daily on January 16 said the two close trading partners were negotiating a barter agreement under which Russia could import up to 500,000 barrels of Iranian oil per day. Russian officials have neither confirmed nor denied the discussions…Tehran's Fars news agency quoted Moscow's Iranian ambassador as saying on Saturday that the latest terms of the proposed deal would see Russia build Iran railroads in exchange for oil…Russian Railways state corporation chief Vladimir Yakunin had earlier expressed interest in helping Iran develop a railroad to its northern neighbour Armenia.” (AFP, “Russian minister plans Iran trip amid oil deal reports,” 2/12/14)

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"Iran may award OAO Russian Railways, the country's rail monopoly a new contract worth about $250 million after the state-run company completed a link between Tebriz and Azarshahr, RIA Novosti reported, citing the head of the Russian Railways unit doing the work."(Bloomberg News, "Iran May Award Russian Rails New $250 Million Contract, Ria Says," 6/9/12)

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“Russian Railways President Vladimir Yakunin led a delegation of Russian Railways to Iran and in Tehran met with government representatives and senior managers of Iranian Railways, including Managing Director Saheb Mohammadi. ‘A mutually beneficial partnership between Russian and Iranian railways in modernisation and infrastructure development is key to strengthening economic cooperation and friendly relations between Iran and Russia,’ said Yakunin. The partners discussed cooperation between the rail systems of the two countries in implementing joint infrastructure projects in Iran. The Iranians proposed that Russia play a role in electrifying the Tehran - Bafq railway line. Following the meeting, the sides agreed to establish a working group for the joint development of the proposal with a proposed schedule and other conditions.” (Russian Railways, “Russian Railways receives proposal to electrify Tehran - Bafq line,” 2/9/11)

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According to its Company Website, “In 2008, the railways of Russia, Iran and Azerbaijan signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding on the construction of a railway line between Rasht - Astara (Iran) - Astara (Azerbaijan). Russian Railways considers this railway line as a key element in the North - South International Transport Corridor (ITC)…Following negotiations, the leaders of railways from Russia, Iran and Azerbaijan signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding in November 2011…According to the results of pre-project development, RAI, Russian Railways and CJSC Azerbaijan Railways will ensure compliance with the corporate procedures required to set up the joint venture which will then directly implement the project. (Russian Railways, “International Projects: Iran.”)

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According to its Company Website, “Russian Railways and the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways (RAI) concluded a contract for the electrification of the Tabriz - Azarshahr railway line on 29 April 2008. A ceremony was held to mark the beginning of construction on 9 February 2009…On 13 October 2012, Vladimir Yakunin, President of Russian Railways, took part in the opening ceremony of the Tabriz - Azarshahr line, which was electrified jointly by Russian and Iranian specialists.” (Russian Railways, “International Projects: Iran.”)