ALWAGHT- Mi’ad Salehi, Head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways (RAI), announced that Russia has exported coal to India via Iran's railway for the first time.
On Saturday, he posted on social media that, for the first time in the railway's history, seven freight wagons carrying 9,500 tons of Russian coal were exported to India via Iran's railway over the past 40 days.
He also expressed optimism that, in line with President-Elect Masoud Pezeshkian's recent directive and focus on enhancing cooperation with neighboring countries like China and Russia, the country's transit volume will continue to grow.
According to a statement from Russia’s National Railway Company, Russia has for the first time sent two trains loaded with coal to India through the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), which links Russia to India via Iran.
The INSTC is a multimodal route encompassing railways, road networks, and seaports, stretching 7,200 km (4,500 miles) from St. Petersburg to the port of Mumbai in India.
The coal will be transported by sea for the final leg of the journey from Iran’s port of Bandar Abbas to the Indian port of Mumbai.
The corridor is part of Russia’s efforts to identify new transportation routes due to Western sanctions, which have compelled it to redirect trade from Europe to Asia and the Middle East.
While construction of the INSTC began in the early 2000s, its development has gained renewed momentum due to Moscow's restrictions. Additionally, New Delhi has promoted the route as an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
