The first scheduled Russian freight train arrived at Iran’s Aprin Dry Port on Saturday, marking the official opening of the eastern branch of the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC). The route represents a major milestone for Moscow and Tehran as they seek to expand regional connectivity, deepen their economic partnership, and bypass Western-controlled maritime routes such as the Baltic and Mediterranean seas.
The inaugural freight train, carrying goods including sulfated cellulose, paper, and pulp, departed Moscow and traveled through Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan before crossing into Iran on a 13-day journey. Officials from both countries described the opening as a significant step in strengthening Eurasian trade integration.
According to Russian and Iranian sources, the eastern route of the INSTC is projected to handle over 30 million tons of trade annually by 2030, with transportation costs expected to be reduced by 20 to 30 percent compared to the traditional Suez Canal route. The corridor ultimately aims to connect India and Russia via Iran’s southern port of Bandar Abbas, forming what Russian officials have called “the backbone of Eurasian trade without the West.”
Trade volume along the route is expected to increase steadily, with Russian oil shipments to Iran projected to begin in early 2026. Meanwhile, work continues on the western branch of the corridor, which will pass through Azerbaijan. The completion of that section, including supporting port infrastructure along the Caspian Sea, is anticipated by 2027.
The INSTC joins a growing network of overland trade routes across Asia designed to reduce dependency on maritime channels vulnerable to external influence or disruption. In May, the first direct freight train from Xi’an, China, arrived at Iran’s Aprin Dry Port via Central Asia, halving travel time between the two countries and avoiding sea routes such as the Strait of Hormuz and Strait of Malacca.