Iran Rapidly Expanding Infrastructure to Boost Trade with Russia and China

Paul Goble

           

            Staunton, March 2 – Over the last several months, Tehran has stepped up its construction of rail and road infrastructure in the northern part of Iran, thus giving it greater possibilities of expanding trade with Russia and China, something its leaders consider a priority given Western sanctions against Iran (ru.irna.ir/news/83690145/Рухани-открыл-первую-фазу-трассы-Тегеран-Север).

            And at the same time, the Iranian government has been exploring the possibility of financing major infrastructure projects in the Russian Federation that would allow it to play a far larger role in the region (jamestown.org/program/its-caspian-sea-trade-cut-by-us-sanctions-iran-turns-to-railways-and-moscow-helps/).

            Most f these Iranian actions have passed below the radar screens of the West, but not of Moscow which views them as a two-edged sword, useful as a means f ppsing the West but a threat to itself at the same time (jamestown.org/program/kalmyk-port-and-canal-threaten-to-upend-power-relations-in-north-caucasus/).