Nargiza Umarova examines the strategic importance of Iran in the development of Eurasian transport connectivity, particularly within the framework of the Southern Railway Corridor linking Central Asia with Türkiye and European markets. Despite geopolitical tensions and sanctions pressures, Iran continues to play a pivotal role as a transit hub that connects Central Asian economies with maritime and continental trade routes. According to Ms. Umarova, the development of the corridor is not driven by Iran alone; Central Asian states, especially Uzbekistan, have also emerged as active stakeholders seeking to diversify logistics routes and reduce dependency on existing transport pathways.
The analysis highlights Uzbekistan’s growing diplomatic and logistical engagement in advancing the corridor through both bilateral and multilateral consultations with regional partners. In particular, discussions between Uzbekistan, Iran and Türkiye within international platforms have focused on improving freight efficiency, harmonising tariffs and expanding railway cooperation. Regular coordination among railway administrations from China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Türkiye demonstrates that the Southern Corridor is gradually evolving from a conceptual project into a structured transport initiative supported by commercial and governmental actors.
At the same time, Ms. Umarova emphasises that the corridor’s long-term viability depends on overcoming significant technical and infrastructural constraints. Among the main challenges are the difference in railway gauges between Iran and Central Asian states, the lack of unified documentation systems, limited interoperability of railway infrastructure and existing logistical bottlenecks along the route. Addressing these issues requires stronger institutional coordination, which is why the expert proposes the establishment of an intergovernmental coordinating body that would consolidate efforts of the participating countries and ensure systematic implementation of transport initiatives.
Despite these challenges, the article underscores the considerable economic potential of the Southern Corridor. With an estimated capacity of up to 10 million tonnes of cargo annually potentially increasing to 15 million tonnes following infrastructure upgrades, the corridor could become one of the most important logistical links between Central Asia and Europe. Large-scale infrastructure investments in Iran, including the development of new railway corridors and projects connected to Afghanistan, further illustrate Tehran’s intention to strengthen its role in Eurasian connectivity networks and reinforce the region’s evolving transport architecture.
* The Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) does not take institutional positions on any issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the IAIS.
