Alexei Overchuk takes part in Russia - Azerbaijan – Iran trilateral meeting
The capital of the Republic of Azerbaijan hosted a trilateral meeting between representatives of the Russian Federation, the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Islamic Republic of Iran. The participants focused on infrastructure cooperation and the strengthening of transport connectivity in the region.
The Russian delegation was led by Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk, the Azerbaijani delegation by Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev, and the Iranian delegation by Minister of Roads and Urban Development Farzaneh Sadegh.
During the meeting, the Alexei Overchuk underlined the importance of developing joint solutions to create a convenient and seamless environment for carriers, exporters and importers as part of efforts to advance the western route of the North-South International Transport Corridor.
According to the Russian Federal Customs Service, 176,761 international freight vehicles crossed the Russian-Azerbaijani border in January-June 2025. This is ten percent more than in the same period last year. Freight volumes grew by 13 percent, reaching 6.8 million tonnes.
“As for the road checkpoints located on the Russian-Azerbaijani border, we have taken measures that increased their capacity fivefold, from 400 to 1,900 freight vehicles per day,” Alexei Overchuk noted.
Once the reconstruction of the Novy Filan, Tagirkent–Kazmalyar, and Yarag–Kazmalyar road checkpoints is completed, the total capacity for freight traffic on the Russian side will reach 3,000 vehicles per day.
In Russia, projects are also underway to build bypass roads around the cities of Astrakhan, Makhachkala, Derbent and Khasavyurt.
In the field of railway infrastructure, the Russian side is working to convert the Derbent-Samur –state border section of the corridor to an alternating-current traction system and to construct a railway checkpoint in Derbent. At the end of last year, Russia and Azerbaijan signed an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation to promote the development of through transportation along the North-South International Transport Corridor.
Cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran continues under the 2023 agreement on building the Rasht– Astara railway section. In May 2025, the Russian side began advance surveying and reconnaissance of the area, as well as work on establishing a geodetic reference network.
“To enhance the attractiveness of the western route of the North-South International Transport Corridor, it is essential to develop a harmonised transport infrastructure across Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran, and to ensure equal conditions for all bona fide carriers when crossing state borders,” said Alexei Overchuk.
The Deputy Prime Minister noted that this work reflects the growing trade and economic ties among Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran.
Trade between the three countries continues to show steady growth. Russian imports from Azerbaijan rose by 9.5percent in the first seven months of 2025, reaching $742.4 million. Trade with the Islamic Republic of Iran grew by 13.3 percent in 2024, and by a further 11.8 percent in the first seven months of 2025, reaching $2.7 billion.
A major boost to trade relations came with the entry into force, on 15 May 2025, of the Free Trade Agreement between the EAEU and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
“If we look at the statistics from May to July 2025, that is, since the launch of the EAEU-Iran free trade zone, we can already see a 35 percent increase in trade,” the Deputy Prime Minister emphasised.
He added that on 24 September the first meeting of the Joint Committee for Implementing the Free Trade Agreement took place, resulting in the adoption of a joint action plan for EAEU-Iran trade and economic cooperation for 2025–2028.
Alexei Overchuk stressed that the strategic goal of joint infrastructure development is to establish seamless logistics from the Barents and Baltic seas to the Persian Gulf, creating the most competitive conditions for producers, exporters and importers across the three countries.
“This work gives our economies new opportunities for growth, creates jobs, increases incomes and improves people’s lives,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.
