Tehran: Azerbaijan and Iran have taken a significant step towards enhancing their freight transport capabilities with the signing of a cooperation protocol. Rovshan Rustamov, Chairman of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC, visited Iran to review the construction at the Astara Terminal alongside Jabbar Ali Zakeri, the head of Iran's railway administration.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the visit included an inspection of the Astara Terminal, a crucial part of the North-South International Transport Corridor. The inspection revealed that construction and installation work at the terminal is nearing completion. The project aims to boost the efficiency of cargo operations, with an expected annual capacity of 3.5-4 million tons, thus enhancing the region's transit potential.

During discussions, the officials addressed the current cooperation between the railways of Azerbaijan and Iran and explored ways to increase freight transport volume along the North-South corridor. The fully operational Astara Terminal is expected to play a key role in these efforts.

The meeting concluded with the signing of a protocol focused on completing the Astara Terminal's construction and increasing cargo transport along the corridor. Notably, in the first five months of 2026, the Astara terminal managed over 345 thousand tons of cargo, marking a 26 percent increase compared to the same period last year.