In her analytical piece, Nargiza Umarova examines how Iran has emerged as a central actor in the ongoing reconfiguration of Eurasian transport routes. Against the backdrop of geopolitical instability, sanctions pressure on Tehran, and disruptions along the Northern Corridor, the article shows how Iran is intensifying transport diplomacy with Central Asian states to position itself as a key land bridge linking East Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. The Southern Corridor is presented not as an abstract alternative, but as a practical response to shifting trade geographies and mounting risks in traditional routes.
A central argument of the article is that the Southern Corridor aligns the strategic interests of several actors at once. For China, constrained by maritime insecurity and the war in Ukraine, trans-Iranian routes offer a technically efficient, container-friendly overland option for high-value exports to the EU. For Iran, large-scale investments in rail infrastructure—including new transit corridors and cross-border links—are designed to consolidate its role as the shortest East–West land route. For Central Asia, participation in these projects enhances transit competitiveness, diversifies export pathways, and reduces over-dependence on any single corridor or partner.
In her conclusions, the author stresses that the strategic value of the Southern Corridor goes beyond logistics. Access to Iran’s ports on the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean opens new north–south dimensions for Central Asian trade, reinforcing the region’s global connectivity. At the same time, she argues that sustained progress will require harmonized transport policies, unified documentation standards, and a collective approach to managing geopolitical risks related to Iran, making transport diplomacy a key instrument of Central Asia’s long-term strategic autonomy.
* 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.
