Russia and Iran form port alliance to circumvent sanctions

Iran and the Russian Federation plan to hold talks on the creation of a joint consortium of ports and shipping companies.

Moscow and Tehran have announced their intention to create a joint association of ports and shipping companies. This was reported by the Russian Ministry of Transport.

Representatives of the sanctioned countries are seeking to discuss issues of coordinating transportation tariffs, developing joint shipping, and interacting with ports of other Caspian littoral states.

One of the central elements of the negotiations is the development of the international North-South transport corridor, in particular its eastern and western branches, as well as the completion of the Rasht-Astara railway line.

In light of the complete political isolation that both Russia and Iran are currently experiencing, attempts to create their own transport and logistics associations look like another step to circumvent sanctions restrictions and strengthen their influence in the Caspian direction. Such initiatives pose both an economic and geopolitical threat, as they contribute to strengthening the alliance between two authoritarian regimes that violate international law.

USM previously reported that Iran is supplying weapons to Russia under the guise of legal trade in European ports.