Iran, Russia, and Azerbaijan agree to stabilize rates on North–South Corridor

Pars Today – Railway officials from Iran, Russia, and the Republic of Azerbaijan have signed a new agreement to stabilize transportation rates along the western branch of the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC).

At the conclusion of trilateral talks in Moscow, the three countries signed an agreement that keeps comprehensive and unified freight transport rates on the western route of the North–South Corridor fixed for all parties.

The agreement marks an important step in implementing the trilateral memorandum of understanding that was signed on November 26 in Baku.

Iran, Russia, and Azerbaijan said the main objective is to boost the economic appeal and competitiveness of this route compared with other regional corridors.

According to the figures presented, container transit through the Astara border crossing (between Iran and Azerbaijan) rose by nearly 60 percent in 2025, reaching close to 7,500 TEUs—a record that signals a strengthening role for this route in the global supply chain.

The parties also agreed to intensify cooperation to attract non-containerized cargo, including ferrous metals, grain, timber, paper, and chemical fertilizers.

The stabilization of rates and the significant growth in transit volumes in 2025 clearly reflect the determination of Iran, Russia, and Azerbaijan to pursue the sustainable development of the strategic North–South Corridor and to turn it into one of the main arteries of regional and transregional trade in the coming years.