Iran, Russia to Finalize Maritime Transport Consortium at Makhachkala Summit

Iran and Russia will hold a joint meeting at the Port of Makhachkala within two months to finalize plans for a bilateral maritime transport consortium aimed at boosting trade across the Caspian Sea. Iran and Russia have agreed to convene a high-level meeting at the Russian port of Makhachkala in the next two months to operationalize a joint maritime transport consortium, according to PMO News.

The decision was made following a phone conversation between Saeed Rasouli, Iran’s Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development and Head of the Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO), and Dmitry Azarov, Russia’s Deputy Minister of Transport.

The upcoming session will include senior officials from both countries' maritime authorities, private sector stakeholders, and representatives from Russia’s Federal Sea and River Transport Agency. The initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen shipping routes across the Caspian Sea.

It follows the Joint Action Plan for Transport Cooperation signed on 18 February 2025 in Tehran and builds on commitments made at the recent Iran-Russia Joint Commission meeting in Moscow. Rasouli underscored the need to expand multimodal transport along the Caspian, with a focus on container shipping via northern Iranian and Russian ports.

He stated that both countries aim to activate all available routes along the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC). He called for immediate implementation of the maritime consortium and emphasized the need for private sector participation.

Rasouli highlighted the importance of harmonizing port tariffs, streamlining customs procedures, and facilitating cargo movement across the Caspian through closer operational alignment. He said the PMO is ready to help draft a comprehensive maritime roadmap and execute the Joint Action Plan, stressing the strategic value of non-state actors in maximizing the corridor’s logistics capacity.

Azarov welcomed Iran’s proposals and affirmed Russia’s support in addressing key operational challenges such as vessel scheduling and the management of sensitive and perishable goods. He reiterated the Russian Transport Ministry’s commitment to establishing a wide-ranging maritime and port cooperation framework with Iran. - Tasnim