On November 26, Azerbaijani and CIS railway officials reported major progress on the North–South and Middle Corridors, including infrastructure upgrades, digitalization, and agreements to increase freight turnover and streamline international transport.

Rashad Nabiyev, the Minister of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan, stated that freight turnover along the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is expected to reach five million tons starting January 1, 2028. He noted that this figure would later rise to fifteen million tons annually. He emphasized cooperation with Iran for the development of the INSTC, adding that "significant exchanges of work are envisaged regarding the construction of the Astara terminal," with completion planned by the end of 2026.

Oleg Belozerov, CEO and Chairman of Russian Railways, stated that Russia, Azerbaijan, and Iran had prepared a memorandum to establish competitive through-tariff rates along the western branch of the corridor. He reported that container shipments along the corridor’s western route through Astara, Azerbaijan, rose by 58.3% in the first ten months of the year.

Rovshan Rustamov, Chairman of Azerbaijan Railways (ADY), said the Middle Corridor was becoming a vital and secure transit route for Eurasian countries. He highlighted that the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway now bridges Europe and Asia and that modernization increased its capacity from one million to five million tons per year. Rustamov also highlighted ongoing projects on the INSTC.

During the meeting, Rustamov, Belozerov, and Jabbar Ali Zakeri, Director General of Iranian Railways, signed a trilateral memorandum to harmonize tariff policies, establish unified tariffs, and launch regular block trains. The memorandum aims to enhance trilateral cooperation and strengthen the countries’ positions in international transport corridors. Zakeri added that construction of the Rasht–Astara railway in Iran is expected to start in 2026 after the Novruz holiday.

Hikmatulla Rakhmetov, First Deputy Chairman of Uzbekistan Railways, said Uzbekistan intends to use the Zangazur Corridor for strategic cargo once operational.