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Iran picked as intermediary trade route to connect China to Europe: Minister
Minister of Roads and Urban Development Farzaneh Sadeq Malvajerd announced on Sunday that Iran has been chosen as an intermediary to connect trade route from China to Europe.
Sadeq Malvajerd made the statement as she was referring to the incumbent administration’s active diplomacy with neighboring countries and the key role of transportation in regional interactions.
Pointing to Regional Transport Ministers’ Conference 2025 in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad on Thursday, the Iranian minister said, “In this meeting, three main axes were reviewed, the most important topics of which were the selection of Iran as an intermediary between Pakistan and the Eurasian and Caucasus countries, the selection of Pakistan as China's connection to Iran, and the transfer of Chinese cargo from Pakistan and Iran to Europe.”
Sadeq Malvajerd underscored the role of transportation infrastructure in developing regional relations, saying, “The development of highways and railway infrastructure plays an effective role in facilitating Iran's communication with neighboring countries.”
She also referred to the signing of the Rasht-Astara railway contract as part of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) between Iran and Russia by next month, adding, “The results of the Baku trip negotiations, focusing on guaranteeing cargo and goods transportation in the missing link of the North-South corridor, especially on the Rasht-Astara railway route, exceeded initial analyses.”
The INSTC is an emerging cargo transit route connecting Indian Ocean countries to Central Asia, Russia, and Europe, which is becoming increasingly popular due to its economic and geopolitical benefits.
Iran has introduced major plans to increase activity on the INSTC, including massive development projects in its only ocean port of Chabahar, located on the Sea of Oman coast in the southeast of the country, as well as in roads connecting the port to other trade hubs.