Iran intends to connect the Ardabil railway line to Azerbaijan
as part of a broader strategy to expand regional trade and
transport links, Iranian Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban
Development Houshang Bazvand has said, Azernews
reports.
According to Bazvand, the planned connection envisages extending
the Ardabil railway toward the Mughan plain and then onward to the
Republic of Azerbaijan, creating a route that could further link
Iran with Central Asia. He noted that the project is regarded as
one of Iran’s strategic transport goals and is expected to
contribute to the expansion of trade with the South Caucasus and
Russia.
The statement comes against the backdrop of Iran’s efforts to
strengthen rail connectivity in its northwestern regions. The
Ardabil–Mianeh railway line, which links Ardabil province to Iran’s
national rail network, has recently been completed, laying the
groundwork for future international extensions. Iranian officials
have repeatedly highlighted plans to continue the railway toward
the northern border, including in the direction of Parsabad in the
Mughan region, which lies close to Azerbaijan.
By linking Ardabil to Azerbaijan’s railway network, Iran aims to
gain access to key regional transport corridors, including routes
connecting the South Caucasus with Russia and wider Eurasian
markets. Such a connection would also complement existing
Iran–Azerbaijan cooperation in transport and logistics and support
Tehran’s broader objective of positioning itself as a transit hub
between the Middle East, the Caucasus and Central Asia.
Officials believe that once implemented, the Ardabil–Azerbaijan
railway connection could significantly boost freight traffic,
facilitate cross-border trade and enhance economic ties between
Iran, Azerbaijan and neighboring regions.