Iran to play special role in forming North-South international transport corridor

Iran will play a special role in forming the North-South international transport corridor, said Russian Ambassador to Tehran Alexander Maryasov in an interview given by him.

According to the ambassador, the automobile, railway and sea infrastructure of that country makes it possible already now to shift a considerable amount of cargo flows from South and South East Asia and the Persian Gulf countries to the European states into the North-South international transport corridor (ITC).

"According to Russian experts," said Maryasov, "already at the first stage of its development the ITC will be able to cope with more than ten million tons of freight traffic a year. Apart from that, the time of deliveries will be cut by 10-12 days, and the container transportation costs - by thirty percent.

At the present time, the Russian ambassador believes, with the increased international fright traffic, Iran has a chance to play a key role in serving transit cargo flows from Asia to Europe and back, as well as to the countries of the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia. There are also great perspectives for developing transit ways through Iran to the Central Asian countries, added Alexander Maryasov.