The first cargo from Europe was delivered to Iran by the new transit corridor via the Black Sea.

Two cargo containers were delivered via the border with Armenia, secretary of International Transport Association of Iran, Gholamhossein Amiri, told Mehr news agency.

In his words, the new corridor will replace the corridor via Turkey, being much shorter, cheaper and secure than the latter.

According to Amiri, in the recent couple of years, they had problems with the Turkish side in regard to the transportation of cargo from Europe. This made them launch talks with other countries to search for alternative routes, he noted.

According to Financial Tribune, hold-ups often formed on the border with Turkey, there also being controversies due to the difference in fuel prices, let alone the security issue: oftentimes cargos allegedly became a target of attacks by PKK, as Ankara claims.

The Iranian Government demanded that Ankara provide security guarantees, but the results were unsatisfactory.

The Iranian Ministry of Transport thus recommended the drivers to look for alternative options via Azerbaijan, Russia and Belarus, or via Armenia and Georgia, the Black Sea and then Bulgaria and Romania.