Iran wants to buy Russian port of Astrakhan in exchange for military cooperation

The offer indicates a strategic rapprochement between the two isolated regimes — amid sanctions pressure and logistical changes in the region.

Iranian logistics company Nasim Bahr Kish has submitted an official application to acquire 100% of the Astrakhan port — including the share still owned by the Russian Federation. The deal is worth about $5.6 million, “Splash” writes.

Recall that the Astrakhan port, located in southern Russia, is an important element of export infrastructure, especially in the supply of grain, wood, metal and mineral fertilizers. It is connected to Iranian ports via the Caspian Sea, and Iran has long been its key trading partner.

Despite its strategic importance, the port’s cargo turnover has fallen: in the 2023/2024 season, Astrakhan processed 275 thousand tons of grain, while in the current agricultural year — only 139.5 thousand tons. No grain shipments were recorded in May 2025, a result of Russia’s temporary ban on barley and corn exports.

Analysts believe that the situation could change in the 2025/2026 season, as evidenced by the expected easing of Russia’s export restrictions and Iran’s own grain production.

The bid is not just a commercial move, but also a geopolitical one. Full control of the port would strengthen Iran’s presence in the Caspian region and strengthen Tehran’s position within the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), which connects Russia, Central Asia, Iran, and India.

If approved, the deal would further link the logistical interests of the two sanctioned states — and turn the Caspian Sea into an important bypass for trade that evades Western control.

USM also recently reported that Russia plans to involve a Chinese company to develop a port in occupied Crimea.