Iran seeks joining CIS railway system

Iran plans to obtain the approval of the Council for Rail Transport of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) for its wagons to operate in the CIS rail network.

News ID: 5375

Date: 06 November 2024 - 13:17

TABNAK, Nov, 06 : The Islamic Republic of Iran Railways CEO has attended the 81st meeting of the Council for Railway Transport of the CIS member states in Uzbekistan.

According to the report, Iran is using the meeting, chaired by Russia, to submit its request to join the railway network of the CIS so that its wagons can operate in the network.

The request aims to enable Iran to use the vast network of CIS railways for cargo transit.

Managing Director of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways Jabbar-Ali Zakeri is representing Iran in the CIS meeting in Tashkent as an observer state.

The largest volume of Iran’s rail transit is through CIS countries, one of the main goals of Iran's membership in this council is to obtain permission for Iranian rail freight to be transported through the rail network of CIS countries, and in this regard, negotiations and necessary measures are being carried out.

The CIS Rail Transport Council meets twice a year, with the heads of member states present.

The Russian Federation chairs this council, and Iran is also present as an affiliated member of this council.

The 81st meeting of the CIS Rail Transport Council is held concurrently with the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Uzbekistan Railways, and Zakeri also plans to hold talks with the head of the railways of Uzbekistan to discuss ways of increasing international rail transport between the two countries.

Commonwealth of Independent States, also known as the CIS, was formed in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union and is comprised of Armenia, the Azerbaijan Republic, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

The development of economic relations with the CIS member countries has been one of Iran’s major priorities in recent years, and cooperation in the field of transportation and transit with these countries, especially after the recent geopolitical developments, has become more important for both sides.