Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development Sadegh Malvajerd said the country is prioritizing the completion of the Rasht–Astara railway — a key segment of the International North–South Transport Corridor — despite Western sanctions, Mehr reports.

Speaking to journalists after a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Malvajerd stressed the project’s strategic importance for connecting northern Iran to Azerbaijan and Russia within the North–South corridor framework.

Commenting on the recent trilateral meeting between Iran, Azerbaijan, and Russia in Baku, the minister noted that the Rasht–Astara line fills a missing link in the corridor’s infrastructure.

According to Malvajerd, Iran will complete land acquisition for the route by the end of the year, while Russia has begun studying the construction phase. He reaffirmed that his ministry considers the corridor’s development a top priority, emphasizing continued cooperation with Moscow and Baku despite sanctions.