Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak pointed out that the volume of trade between Russia and Iran increased by 10% in the last quarter of this year.

During the Iranian-Russian trade forum, he said that “last year, the volume of trade between the two countries increased by 81% and reached the highest level in recent years – almost $ 4 billion.”

In a conclusion published by Russia Today, he said: Iran could become Russia’s gateway to the Indian Ocean… Iran, up to the Indian Ocean, the Persian Gulf and other countries of South Asia and Africa. The length of this transport corridor is half the length of the road passing through the Suez Canal, and also reduces transport costs. It was supposed to build large ports in Russian Astrakhan and Iran on the coast of the Caspian Sea, to launch ferry crossings with trains between Russia and Iran and between Iran and India. In 2000, an agreement was signed between Russia, Iran and India regulating container transportation between India and Russia. Subsequently, Kazakhstan and other landlocked countries of Central Asia, which are particularly interested in this project, joined the agreement.