Iran, Armenia to boost transit corridors, transport cooperation

TABNAK, Aug.19 - Iran and Armenia have agreed to expand transit corridors, resolve logistical barriers, and strengthen bilateral transport cooperation following high-level talks between their respective ministers.

News ID: 6698

Date: 19 August 2025 - 13:35

The meeting took place during the official visit of Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Farzaneh Sadegh, to Yerevan, where she met with Armenia’s Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, Gnel Sanosyan.

Focus on Regional Transit Corridors

Sadegh underlined the strategic importance of the North–South and Persian Gulf–Black Sea corridors, calling for the development of road, rail, and logistics infrastructure in Armenia to facilitate regional cargo movement.
She also highlighted a significant imbalance in bilateral road tolls — estimated at around USD 330 — and urged a review of the current regime.

Rail Link and Territorial Integrity

Emphasising respect for the territorial integrity of states, Sadegh stated that any new transport route must avoid altering regional geopolitics. She welcomed the reopening of the Jolfa–Yerevan–Georgia railway line as a key step to improving regional transit.
Sadegh further invited her Armenian counterpart to visit Iran to explore the country's logistics and transport capacities.
Referring to the recent visit of the Iranian President to Armenia, Sadegh called it a turning point in bilateral transport and logistics ties.

Armenian Side Welcomes Cooperation

Sanosyan praised Iran’s assistance during the 2024 earthquake and expressed satisfaction with the performance of Iranian contractors on infrastructure projects.
He confirmed the successful execution of the North–South road segment by Iranian firms and expressed preference for awarding upcoming phases to the same companies. A new tender for the next segment is expected soon.

Joint Working Group on Toll Disparity

Acknowledging the toll disparity issue, Sanosyan announced the formation of a joint technical working group to review and resolve it.
He also confirmed plans to construct a second bridge at Nordooz to ease heavy equipment transfer and streamline transit, stating that the project would also be entrusted to Iranian contractors.

Expansion in Air Connectivity

In the aviation sector, both parties discussed expanding the current 20 weekly flights between the two countries. They agreed to sign an aircraft leasing memorandum to further enhance air transport cooperation.

Strengthening South Caucasus Integration

The meeting demonstrated both countries’ commitment to enhancing infrastructure ties, promoting regional transit integration, and developing shared economic opportunities across the South Caucasus.