Masoud Pezeshkian, President of Iran, will travel to Russia on January 17 at the invitation of Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, to make an official visit and sign a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty between the two countries. This trip, while demonstrating Tehran and Moscow's determination to develop strategic relations in various fields, especially transit and transportation, once again brings the two countries' joint project to complete the North-South Corridor to the forefront of domestic, regional, and international media attention.
The significant role of corridors in shaping economic and geopolitical equations has made the creation and utilization of corridors one of the main subjects of cooperation among like-minded countries. The cooperation and partnership between Iran and Russia to complete the North-South Corridor will not only significantly increase economic and trade relations between the two countries but also, due to the location of the most important part of this corridor in Iran's geography, will elevate the country's position as a key player in the new regional and global order.
Synergy of strategic corridors
Transitional corridors have evolved into tools for enhancing political influence and establishing regional security, beyond their economic role.
The North-South Corridor, by connecting Russia to the Persian Gulf via Iran, offers a shorter, cheaper, and safer route compared to traditional routes like the Suez Canal. Pezeshkian's presence in Moscow provides an opportunity to accelerate infrastructural and facilitative cooperation between the two countries to implement this corridor.
Alongside Iran and Russia's cooperation to complete the North-South Corridor, the implementation of the Persian Gulf-Black Sea Corridor, which connects Iran to the Black Sea and then to Europe via Armenia and Georgia, can strengthen Iran's role in the global supply chain and reduce dependence on existing routes.
This plan is not only beneficial for Iran, India, and Armenia but also brings extensive advantages to Azerbaijan, Georgia, Bulgaria, and Greece. The importance of this project was officially highlighted in June of last year when the then-Foreign Minister of Iran and the Secretary-General of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization announced the finalization of the agreement document for the Persian Gulf-Black Sea International Corridor. This agreement marks a turning point in regional and international economic convergence.
Iran's Position in the New Regional Order
Iran, due to its strategic location, connects four key maritime basins: the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman, the Caspian Sea, and the Black Sea. This geographical position provides Iran with unique opportunities to play a significant role in the new regional and international order:
Iran serves as a bridge between Asia and Europe, and due to its unique geopolitical position, it can develop its transit infrastructure to become a connecting point between the East and the West, benefiting from extensive transit revenues and associated political and security leverages.
The activation of the mentioned corridors will lead to increased geopolitical influence. Cooperation with powers such as Russia and India in corridor projects strengthens Iran's position in global power equations.
Activating strategic corridors will also enhance Iran's regional relations by defining a win-win relationship with various stakeholders. Corridors can serve as a tool to reduce regional tensions and expand multilateral cooperation.
Opportunities and challenges ahead for Iran
Given the vital role of corridors in regional and global trade development, many countries are interested in investing in the creation and completion of corridors. Accordingly, the development of corridors can provide Iran with the opportunity to attract foreign investment. In addition, new routes will also free Iran from the monopoly of rival routes.
One of the significant opportunities that the creation and completion of the mentioned corridors can bring for Iran is the attraction of global trade. Iran can become a hub for transit of goods, especially strategic products such as grains.
Along with the mentioned opportunities, there are some important challenges, including the lack of infrastructure along the way of creating and activating corridors. Many of Iran's transit projects require investment and infrastructure completion.
Moreover, rival countries that seek to attract more benefits through the transit of goods, such as Turkey and the UAE, will try to diminish Iran's role in transit projects.
The existing geopolitical tensions in the region are also among the obstacles to the activation of corridors. Disputes in the Caucasus and security crises in the region can affect the implementation of projects.
Strategic corridors: A tool for redefining regional and global order
Iran can take advantage of regional and global capacities such as the Eurasian Economic Union, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and BRICS by activating the North-South and Persian Gulf-Black Sea corridors. It can also complete or strengthen the communication loops of these corridors by concluding joint agreements in the fields of transit, customs, insurance, and banking with target countries.
In a situation where Western countries are seeking to limit Iran's role and position in the region and the international system, the creation of the mentioned corridors can have a significant impact on the development of Iran's relations with regional countries and major economic powers, and it can lead to breaking the Western countries' sanctions loops.
NOURNEWS