Russian and Iranian railroad leaders to sign cooperation agreement in Tehran

Russian and Iranian railroad leaders will sign a cooperation agreement in Tehran, said Russian Railroads President Gennady Fadeyev in a meeting with Iranian Ambassador to Russia Gholamrez Shafee which took place on the eve of Fadeyev's visit to Tehran. The visit will include a meeting with the Iranian Transportation Minister as well as the political and business elite of Iran. Fadeyev intends to discuss with his Iranian colleagues questions of Russian Railroads' participation in the construction of a railroad network in a number of Iranian provinces as well as the status of the North-South corridor.

'A container train will leave from Berlin for Tehran on August 1 and soon afterwards another train will leave for Tehran from Helsinki. The sooner we organize an effective railway with Iran, the more benefits both countries will receive from cooperation,' said Fadeyev in a meeting with the Iranian ambassador.

Fadeyev emphasized that 'Iran is a strategic and advantageous partner with which many countries are attempting to cooperate.' In part Kazakhstan is looking at the possibility of constructing a rail link, which would provide the transportation of Iranian oil to China through Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. In this regard, Russia's cooperation with Iran acquires more geopolitical and economic significance. It is expected that after the signing of the cooperation memorandum other bi-lateral working groups will be formed to further cooperation.