Azerbaijan, Iran to Enhnace Transportation Cooperation
TEHRAN – Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Rostam Ghasemi in a meeting with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev has underlined bilateral cooperation between the two countries to expand transportation ties.
Ghasemi attended in the 15th Joint Economic Committee meeting, on top of a high-ranking delegation.
The Azeri president, in the meeting, expressed his satisfaction with the development of bilateral ties between the two countries, adding that territorial openings in the Republic of Azerbaijan have created a good opportunity for regional cooperation.
He said Azerbaijan considered the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Nakhchivan and the western regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan through Iran as a sign of friendly relations and we are confident that this new crossing will open new openings in economic, transportation Generate energy.
Aliyev added that Baku is sure that this route will be an important international crossing for the region.
Emphasizing the activity of Iranian companies in the reconstruction of the Republic of Azerbaijan, The Azeri president said that Baku is pleased with the activity of Iranian companies in the reconstruction of the this country.
Jolfa-Nakhchivan
Railway Facilitates Iran’s Access to Eurasia
Jolfa-Nakhchivan is a 105-year-old railway which constitutes the cheapest, easiest access for Iran to Europe and Eurasia markets and new developments like Karabakh war has doubled its significance.
The railway was launched in 1916, making Jolfa customs as the greatest exports and imports terminal of Iran at the time even more significant.
It kept of the trend until World War II when the maritime routes to the Persian Gulf were introduced, with the railway losing monopoly over exports and imports although keeping significance as the busiest terminal.
However, after the Soviet disintegration which led to the Armenian occupation of Karabakh and seven other provinces of Azerbaijan Republic, Jolfa-Nakhchivan railway’s sun sank down as Nakhchivan’s path to Azerbaijan Republic was block by Armenia.
Jolfa-Nakhchivan railway’s position in Iran’s trade transactions was so significant that 4 million tons of goods were transported through the railroad on a yearly basis before the Soviet disintegration.
The railway has gained importance once again as the occupied lands have been freed and reclaimed by Azerbaijan Republic and a trilateral agreement between Moscow, Baku and Yerevan has been signed to establish a corridor to connect Nakhchivan to Baku.
The railway has the potential to foil plans by Russia and Turkey to circumvent Iran in international routes in the Caucasus and connect Iran to Russia, South Caucasus and Europe in a cheap and easy way, according to experts.
Therefore, expert delegation from Iran have repeatedly inspected Jolfa-Nakhchivan railway and explored ways to revive the international route.
East Azarbaijan Governor-Genral Zeinolabedin Khorram in a meeting last week emphasized reactivating the railroad, saying that the obstacles in this way should be removed and Iranian tourism businesses should have presence in Nakhchivan.
Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi who took office in August last year has prioritized expansion of ties with neighboring countries as an important foreign policy program in his administration.
Reviving Jolfa-Nakhchivan railway has attracted a position reaction in Iran’s social media, with users stating that the railway can connect Iran not only to the three South Caucasus states, but also to Russia and Europe.