New Delhi A sea, road and rail transport corridor linking Iran and Russia, first proposed more than two decades ago, for energy, fertilizers, minerals and food grains in the wake of Western sanctions imposed after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. is emerging as a major route for transportation of ,
Though the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is being disrupted by logistics issues and US sanctions on Iran, a Russian train with 39 containers bound for India entered Iran on Tuesday. This was followed by a trial run during June-July with two containers of laminated wood sheets shipped from St Petersburg to India’s Nhava Sheva port.
Russia is understood to be behind attempts to increase shipments using the INSTC in the wake of widespread sanctions imposed by the US and its allies on Moscow. These efforts have gained momentum in recent weeks in the backdrop of growing cooperation between Russia and Iran. Russian President Vladimir Putin will make a rare foreign trip to Tehran next week to attend a trilateral meeting with the leaders of Iran and Turkey and boost economic cooperation.
More than a dozen countries are members of the INSTC and the corridor could become an important route for transportation of energy, fertilisers, minerals and food grains, said people aware of the development, requesting anonymity. He added that INSTC can also supplement Russian energy shipments by sea.
“It is a natural alliance as India has traditionally had close ties with Iran and Russia, rooted in deep historical, cultural and civilizational ties,” one of them said. “The partners are also looking at setting up an inter-country agency to conduct the project on a commercial basis.”
“INSTC is also seen as a response to China’s One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative. But unlike the Chinese project, it is based on the rule of law and transparency while respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the members.” Vice President Mohamed Mokhbar, Vice President of Science and Technology and Minister of Transport, Oil, Industry and Agriculture – Tehran for Development reflect the importance given by.
Just a day ahead of the train’s arrival in Iran, state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) on Monday announced that it has completed the first phase of a program to move Russian goods to India through INSTC. 300 containers have been handed over.
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