Russia plans to begin moving cargo along the Russia-Iran-India and Russia-Iran-China routes of the International North-South Transport Corridor by 2026, according to Andrey Tarasenko, who heads Russia’s Federal Agency for Maritime and River Transport.
Tarasenko told reporters that preparations are underway to start operations on both routes in 2026, local media reported, citing the state news agency TASS.
He noted that MMTP JSC, Iran’s state-owned shipping giant IRISL, and its Caspian arm Khazar Sea Shipping Lines held talks in April. During those meetings, the companies agreed to set up container services, including multimodal transport, along the corridor.
Earlier in the month, Russia and Iran also reached a deal to form a joint maritime consortium aimed at boosting shipping between Makhachkala and Iranian ports.
In September, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Tianjin, China, saying the grouping stands for security, connectivity, and opportunity. He stressed that India views connectivity as essential not only for trade but also for building trust and fostering development.
Modi highlighted India’s work on the Chabahar Port and the International North-South Transport Corridor, saying these projects can strengthen links with Afghanistan and Central Asia. He also underlined that any connectivity effort must respect sovereignty and territorial integrity, principles central to the SCO Charter.
