Iran urges Russia to strengthen Caspian ports and accuses Ukraine of obstructing trade

Iran has called on Russia to strengthen its port infrastructure on the Caspian Sea to expand shipments of grain and essential food products. Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref emphasized the importance of the Caspian route for bilateral trade during a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. He also accused Ukraine of creating obstacles to transport links between the two countries.

According to Aref, developing Russian ports on the Caspian Sea would allow both countries to increase grain and other food shipments. Iran considers this route one of the key corridors for maintaining stable trade with Russia and is interested in expanding its transport capacity.

During the talks, the Iranian vice president claimed that Ukraine was allegedly carrying out attacks in the region to disrupt cooperation between Moscow and Tehran. He argued that such actions were intended to create problems in bilateral relations. However, no specific evidence supporting these accusations was provided in the published reports. Aref stressed that Iran would continue using its northern ports for trade with Russia.

The Caspian route plays an important role in Russian grain shipments to Iran, although its development depends on port capacity, vessel availability, and transport infrastructure. Expanding port facilities could increase cargo volumes and ease logistical constraints along this corridor.

Iran remains one of the largest importers of Russian grain and has ranked among the leading buyers since last year. Further development of Caspian logistics could create additional opportunities to increase Russian grain exports, although the implementation of such plans will depend on port infrastructure improvements and stable navigation in the region.

Tags: Iran, Russia, export, grain