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Caucasus & Central Asia

Iran and Armenia prepare a draft comprehensive transit memorandum

Jul 30, 2026

Iran's Road Maintenance and Transportation Organization said in a report published early on Thursday, 30 July 2026 (8 Mordad 1405) that a draft comprehensive memorandum of understanding has been prepared following a transport meeting in Armenia and talks at ministerial level between the two countries. Reza Akbari, deputy roads and urban development minister and head of the organization, said the draft focuses on infrastructure development, removing obstacles to border crossings, reducing or eliminating road tolls, and increasing capacity to handle transit fleets in both countries.

Akbari said opening parallel corridors in the region and fully activating the Iran, Armenia and Georgia corridor could raise the level of trade exchanges significantly. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Foreign Ministry, the international affairs centre of the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development, and the organization's transit and international transport office.

A deputy at Armenia's Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure reported progress on infrastructure projects and said a further specialist meeting between officials of the two sides will be held in the near future to review the proposals in the document, with results to be announced through diplomatic channels.

Source

Eghtesad Online, citing IRNA

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