Igor Levitin said transport and transit via Iran’s route is of paramount importance to Russia, noting that the issue of the development of a railway between Iran and Russia is a major part of facilitating the ties and thus the Russian government has decided to finance the construction of the Rasht-Astara railway. 

Efforts are underway to increase the volume of exchanges of goods to 30 million tons, he said, adding that Russia has considered a budget line for the construction of ships in the Caspian Sea.

Russia expects transit cooperation will develop with India and Iran for the development of the International North-South Transport Corridor, he underlined.