Russia is moving swiftly to expand the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal trade network spanning Russia, Central Asia, Iran, and India, linking Northern Europe with South Asia.
For Moscow, the corridor is a strategic lifeline, allowing Russian goods and energy to bypass the long and increasingly insecure maritime routes through the Black Sea, Suez Canal, and Red Sea.
Newsweek has contacted the Kremlin and Iran’s Foreign Ministry for comment.
Why It Matters
Russia is facing acute logistical constraints. Its exports currently rely on the Black Sea route, controlled by Turkey, before passing through the Mediterranean and Suez Canal. This path is long, costly, and exposed to geopolitical instability. The INSTC offers a direct alternative: Russian cargo travels by rail to Azerbaijan’s Baku port, crosses the Caspian Sea, and then continues through northern Iran via the Rasht-Astara railway to Bandar Abbas on the Persian Gulf. From there, goods can reach India and South Asia efficiently.
For Moscow, the corridor is more than economic—it is a strategic hedge against isolation. Faster, cheaper, and more secure transport reduces vulnerability under Western sanctions while strengthening trade ties with India and potentially China. Iran, meanwhile, stands to emerge as a central hub in Eurasian trade, gaining influence without deploying military force.
What To Know
Earlier this week, Russia and Iran announced plans to accelerate work on the INSTC, signaling a renewed push to complete the corridor. Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, met Russian Deputy Prime Minister for Transport Vitaly Savelyev in Tehran to review steps toward full operation.
Larijani emphasized that the corridor is treated as a strategic priority, signaling Iran’s commitment to completing the project. Savelyev underlined its importance for faster, safer Russian exports to South Asia.
Political Commitment and Leadership Oversight
In a separate discussion, President Vladimir Putin pressed Iranian Parliament Speaker Masoud Pezeshkian on progress with the Rasht-Astara railway, a critical 162.5-kilometer segment linking Russia’s rail network directly to southern Iran’s Bandar Abbas port. Pezeshkian told Putin, “I follow this project every week,” highlighting the project’s strategic weight for both countries.
Route and Regional Integration
The INSTC combines rail, road, and maritime routes through Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan, including Caspian Sea crossings. It ultimately connects Russia’s northern cities with Indian ports such as Mumbai, cutting transit times nearly in half compared with traditional Suez Canal routes.
Delays and Current Momentum
The corridor has existed for decades but stalled due to overreliance on oil revenue, weak strategic prioritization, and opposition from states wary of a stronger Iranian transit role. Today, more than 106 kilometers of the Rasht-Astara line are complete, with leaders in Moscow and Tehran closely monitoring progress.
U.S. Reaction
Washington has expressed concern over the INSTC’s growing influence, warning that increased Iranian control over the corridor could weaken sanctions enforcement and shift regional leverage. While sanctions remain in place, U.S. officials continue to monitor developments closely.
What Happens Next
The INSTC could eventually link with East-West routes to China and Europe, forming a fully integrated Eurasian rail and shipping network. For Russia, it provides a durable alternative to constrained maritime routes. For Iran, it transforms geography into power, generating revenue and strategic influence.
For the U.S. and other Western powers, it presents a challenge: balancing trade interests and sanctions policy while observing Moscow and Tehran expand a corridor capable of reshaping global logistics and regional power dynamics.
