Six nations sign Istanbul deal to boost China-Europe rail transit via Iran
Representatives from Iran, China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Turkey signed an agreement in Istanbul to expand rail transit along the southern branch of a key transport corridor, a move that positions Iran as a “golden gateway” for container trains traveling from China to Europe.
Under the six-party deal, the countries along the route committed to setting unified and competitive tariffs, speeding up train transit times, reducing ancillary and customs costs, and providing the necessary infrastructure to enable a sharp increase in container train traffic through the corridor’s southern branch, which passes through Iran, IRNA reported.
Nearly 60 million tons of cargo — transported on about 20,000 container freight trains — moved between China and Europe last year.
Officials expect that once the new commitments are implemented, a significant share of that rail transit volume will shift to routes crossing the Islamic Republic of Iran, generating substantial economic and commercial benefits for the country.