Russian freight train arrives in Iran, marking new balance in international trade
TEHRAN, Nov. 08 (YPA) – The first Russian freight train arrived at Iran’s Abarin port on Saturday, marking the inauguration of a regular rail line along the international North-South Corridor, which is expected to become the most influential trade artery in Eurasia.
The move was described as revolutionize trade routes and the balance of economic influence between East and West.
The journey, described also by the Iranian news agency IRNA as highly strategic, was the result of extensive coordination between railway authorities, customs officials, freight forwarders, and cargo owners along the route, which links Russia, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan reaching Iran.
Morteza Jafari, a head of commercial operations at Iran Railways, revealed that Abarin port, which has received 30 international freight trains since last June, was preparing to expand its operations and transform Iran into a pivotal hub for export, import, and transit in a region where East and West interests intersect.
The Russian train arrived carrying 62 large containers of paper, pulp, and related products, destined for both Iran and Iraq, after a journey that took only 12 days.
His arrival was coincided with a Russian statement affirming that this step constituted a pivotal stage in establishing a safe and rapid alternative to traditional trade routes that had been plagued by disruptions for years.
Oleg Polev, CEO of Russian Railways Logistics, stated that the shipment represented a practical embodiment of the Russian strategy to create integrated logistics routes, relying on the North-South Corridor as the backbone for connecting Russia to warm waters, the Persian Gulf, and Asia.
The Abarin Port, launched as Iran’s largest logistics project in May 2025, is a multimodal hub at the crossroads of trade routes between East and West and North and South, and is gradually moving towards its full capacity.
With this move, Moscow and Tehran have laid a new foundation for reshaping global trade routes, moving away from the traditional routes dominated by Western powers. The North-South Corridor is poised to play a leading economic and geopolitical role in the coming years.
AA