Opportunities that brought Iran and Russia closer together
reports Mehr correspondent , August 6, this year with some ministers, including the Minister of Agriculture Jihad. The trip, at the invitation of the Russian president, was aimed at expanding the trade relations of the two countries. What are the opportunities of this collaboration? Hossein Shirzad, an agricultural development expert, referring to the background of the two countries ‘cooperation and the opportunities of the two countries’ interaction in providing halal food previously in Mehr News Agency has been published, and other issues surrounding this bilateral cooperation will be discussed.
strategic interests of Iran and Russia in Central Asia
Agricultural development expert Hossein Shirzad told Mehr reporter that Russia’s relations with Iran are almost based on geopolitical assumptions: Iran and Russia have: Iran and Russia have: Iran and Russia. There are strategic interests in Central Asia, such as containing security risks in Afghanistan and restricting US influence in the region as well as promoting regional economic integrity.
He added: “The two countries are partner in major projects such as the North-South International Transport Corridor, which aims to accelerate the transportation of goods between Russia and India and can benefit in favor of Central Asian countries. Russia sends cereals to India through Iran in Bandar Abbas.
He continued: Russia has accelerated its investment to operate the North-South International Transport Corridor (Instc) since the northern ports It connects Russia to Iranian ports through the Caucasus and the Caspian Sea. It is also a shorter and more affordable alternative to traditional routes such as the Suez Canal.
He stated that the development of new commercial corridors can be considered as a strategic step in advancing a wider global movement to counter Western domination. : Iran is at the intersection of South Instagram and has been looking for parallel commercial networks and systems years before the year, because it has to manage the economic problems caused by US sanctions and some other Western countries.
He noted: In the summer, Moscow and Tehran were to invest about $ 5 billion to develop domestic and railway waterways to store St. Petersburg to Chabahar and Chabahar ports. Bandar Abbas to attach Moscow and Tehran to invest about $ 5 billion in the development of domestic and railway waterways to connect St. Petersburg to Chabahar and Bandar Abbas Ports . The North-South Corridor contains three main branches, each with unique opportunities and obstacles. The western branch, which passes through Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran, suffers from a lack of infrastructure in Iran. The North-South International Transport Corridor reflects the strategic reaction of the Caspian Sea to a change in world trade dynamics.
He stated: Its success depends on addressing vital infrastructure challenges, guaranteeing competitive tariffs and effective coordination between stakeholders. If these issues are managed, this corridor can become a vital business path and reduce transit time and costs; At the same time offers a replacement for traditional shipping lines such as the Suez Canal.
Shirzad believes, however, the wider geopolitical consequences of the project, including its alignment with regional and global powers, will probably affect its long-term durability and success. Left; But Iran’s old infrastructure continues to prevent the development of the North -South International Transport Corridor to connect India to the European part of Russia.
Creating anti-sanctions supply chains
The agricultural development expert emphasized: Creating an international corridor is one of the most important joint Iran-Russia joint projects in the It is Volga Span> which will play a key role in strengthening bilateral trade and strengthening economic relations. Ulyanovsk , Russia’s central province, is at the intersection of commercial routes east to west and north to south. The area plays an important role in the Russian commercial and logistical network with 4 ports along the Volga . The Volga is of great economic importance because 2 % of Russian agricultural production, 2 % of industrial production, 2 % of oil products and 4.7 % of Russian mineral production He assigns it.
he stated: Obviously, rail and river transportation projects provide promising opportunities for Iranian and Russian businessmen Railway and River Transportation Projects provide promising opportunities for the parties’ businessmen.
He said: Russia is finalizing laws to Iranian ships along the inner rivers Volga
According to the expert, during spring and summer, when this channel is not frozen, Russia from the Black Sea and the Sea to transport equipment and goods between the Black Sea and the Sea Caspian uses. This business route has greatly increased Russian trade opportunities with Iran.
He noted: The Iranian government made investments to upgrade the port Astrakhan Russia had performed and aims to increase its shipping options to Europe through a path that could circumvent sanctions; In addition, Iran is actively involved in assisting Russia in the Dredging of the River Volga . This effort aims to facilitate the transportation of larger ships and heavier cargoes to the Port Astrakhan to the Black Sea and beyond the Volga Channel- Don is done.
Shirzad, stating that ships in rivers Don and Volga Span> move, traditionally exchange energy and agricultural commodities, adding that Iran is traditionally the third importer of Russian cereals, but the volume of these goods is supposed to increase.
building a new intercontinental business path
Shirzad continued, referring to Iran’s capabilities in the field of shipping, said: In recent years, Iran has increased its shipping capabilities in the Caspian Sea and its companies are increasingly. Participated in Russian projects and ship routes over Volga .
he explained: About 5 ships were added to the Iranian commercial fleet in year 2; In addition, the Caspian Iranian shipment plans to increase its fleet to four. In year 2, more than 2 % of the port stock Solianka in the Astarakhan by the Iranian Company of Nasim Bahar Kish was purchased.
He announced: Russia and Iran are building a new intercity commercial route that extends from the eastern edge of Europe to the Indian Ocean, a 2-kilometer crossing. (1 mile) that is out of reach of any foreign intervention. Russia and Iran are building a new intercontinental business route that extends from the eastern edge of Europe to the Indian Ocean. , 2 kilometers long -term external intervention
The two countries spend billions of dollars to accelerate cargo delivery along the Caspian Sea and railways connected to the Caspian Sea.
, according to ship tracking data collected by Bloomberg, shows that dozens of Russian and Iranian ships, including some who are subject to sanctions Now they are on this route. This is an example of how large powers competition is rapidly changing business networks in the global economy, which appears to be divided into competing blocks.
Shirzad believes that Russia and Iran are spinning to each other under severe pressure on sanctions and both look east.
he said that the corridor is the goal of protecting commercial bonds against Western interventions and creating new ties with giant and growing Asian economies. The emerging business enables Russia and Iran to remove thousands of kilometers from their current routes. At the northern end of it is the Azouf is enclosed by Russian occupation and the river Dan’s crater. These river, sea and rail networks expand to the Iranian poles in the Caspian Sea and eventually the Indian Ocean.
collaboration of the two countries in other corridors
Shirzad pointed to the background of Iran-Russia cooperation in transit-logistical projects and said: Since Iran and Russia, two major transit-logistical projects are aimed at implementing two major transit-logistical projects Strengthening commercial routes and reducing freight time, especially cereals, began. These projects include the Railway Elianovsk-Astara Railway and the Volga-Caspian River route, which is expected to reduce delivery time from 7 days to 7 days.
he stated: These projects aimed at expanding the capacity of the commercial fleet and increasing the economic exchanges of the port > And transit is done between Iran and Russia. Given the 5 % increase in the volume of trade between Ulyanovsk Span> and Iran in the first six months of the year compared to the same period last year, bilateral trade from $ 1.5 million at $ 5 The month increased to $ 5 million a year and set a new record in economic cooperation.
Banking challenges waiting for new openings
Shirzad, referring to the change in monetary base in the trade of the two countries, continued: After the Russian boycott of international financial institutions such as the Ukrainian banking system, after the Ukrainian war, the post-war Swift banking system, he continued. It has worked with Iran to develop alternative financial systems and bypassing the US dollar in its transactions.
He said that in the first six months of the year, a currency contract was signed between Iran and Russia, whereby the two countries could have two rubles and rials. Deal.
he added: Ashwashk and National Bank, the largest Russian and Iran banks, each with Opening of $ 1.5 billion (equivalent to more than $ 5 million) agreed to import essential goods from Russia to Iran, and the Payment Payment Plan Plan Using the “ Mir ” Russian was launched in Iran. chobbank and the National Bank, the largest banks in Russia and Iran, each with the opening of the line. Credit of $ 1.5 billion (equivalent to more than $ 5 million) agreed to import essential goods from Russia to Iran and the Payment Payment Payment Plan was launched using Russian system in Iran
he continued: In the meantime, leading Russian banks Sberbank and VTB will play central roles by facilitating the necessary credit lines. Russia’s second largest bank, VTB, has just opened its representative office in Iran, as the two countries are moving towards connecting their banking systems to circumvent sanctions. In fact, problems in cross -trade are very extensive.
He said that the main problem for Russian exporters is the lack of an effective system for commercial trading, saying: Russian banks have long been through the Mir Business , which is one of the National Bank branches, transfer funds to Iran VTB and Sberbank also cooperate. They have begun, but they have been skeptical of reports of their new offices in Tehran.
he noted: Everything goes back to Iran’s two exchange rates, government rates and market rates and banks Mir Business tends towards government rates. As a result, with each transfer, the Russian businessman loses 5 % to 5 %. All current settlement services through the Bank Mir Business and there is still no other way .
he noted: It is clear that at such rates, cash shipments have more profits than transfers that Iran is trying to avoid because with it The rial crisis is getting worse.
Commercial logistics challenges
Shirzad stated that logistics is a challenge in transporting goods to Iran. Increase transportation by up to 5 %. The Caspian Sea has fewer ships and seasonal fluctuations that complicate shipping. These challenges must be resolved in the logistics for Iran. Land transport is also damaged due to the lack of direct rail links and high transit rates of Kazakhstan and reduces supply profitability.
, referring to the infrastructure problems of Iranian ports, said: Ports are facing infrastructure shortages due to US sanctions. The northern ports of Iran have about 2 percent, the southern ports are about 2 percent modern infrastructure, and the Iranian railroad is very low. For year 2, the railway accounts for only 5 % to 5 % of cargo cargo, while diesel trucks for more than 5 years make up more than half of the freight combination in the country.
The agricultural development expert continued: The northern railway of Iran will be completed in a length of 2 kilometers within 5 years. This is the only missing link in the International Corridor of North-South (Instc) from northeast of Russia through Azerbaijan to the southern coast of Iran and by sea to India.
he added: The two countries have set their target to increase transit by rail to 5 million tonnes per year to year 2. Under such circumstances, Iran would like to increase and invest its economic relations with Russia, China, India and other countries in the region. The business turnover is gradually becoming more balanced, and the free trade agreement between Iran and the Eurasia Economic Union (EEU) is expected to increase this growth. Transit of the railway has been set to 3 million tonnes per year to year 2. Iran is willing to increase its economic relations with Russia, China, India and other countries in the region. The business turn is gradually becoming more balanced
He pointed to the geographical location of our country: Iran has a prominent place in Russian efforts to strengthen regional communication because of its geographical location and economic potential. Is. Russia has emphasized Iran’s potential to play a central role as a geographical bridge that connects Europe and Eurasia to the Middle East and South Asia, thus expanding opportunities for intercontinental trade.
He added: Iran also tends to participate in regional initiatives as a certificate of centralization in promoting regional connection through transportation projects such as Brri and The instc to picture. But so far, bilateral economic relations have been unattended, the lack of reliable banking channels, and incompatible import and export structures.
Shirzad emphasized at the end: The key to commercial convergence should be more in the field of agricultural trade and joint Russian-Iran commitment to deepen its participation in the agricultural value chain through initiatives Subscribe to business, innovation and training.
