Iran counts on Russia to reduce dependence on southern ports

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Hamid Ganbari stated that Russia is capable of becoming a supplier of necessary goods, helping reduce the country's dependence on southern ports, and facilitating trade settlements with fewer banking restrictions. His remarks were reported by Iran's state broadcaster.

According to Ganbari, the North-South transport corridor and the Rasht-Astara railway project, whose construction is already progressing, could serve as the foundation for broad cooperation.

The diplomat also reported that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian plans to visit Russia to participate in a gas forum. Ganbari named China and Russia as Tehran's strategic partners in economics and politics, noting that Beijing has repeatedly voted in favor of Iran in the UN Security Council and opposed the American initiative on the snapback mechanism—a procedure aimed at restoring UN sanctions on Iran.