The prospect of competition over the strategic corridors of West Asia

The authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Russia are preparing the North-South Corridor, a joint project related to international transportation, which the designers say, if it is put into operation, it can be a part of the cargo and Reduce shipping through the Suez Canal. Currently, 12% of world trade is carried out through the Suez Canal. A Serbian analyst believes that the problem of Iran and Russia's strategic planning to complete this corridor, which goes from the southern ports of Iran to Astara and from there to Russia through Azerbaijan, is the lack of guarantees in the near future. Nikola Mikovich says: Two countries have been discussing this project for more than 20 years, but the construction of the railway has financial, logistical and political problems. Nevertheless, Iran and Russia have a strong desire to launch it, believing that they can use it to bypass sanctions. Even if Moscow and Tehran manage to complete the basic sea and land route of this corridor, the tense relations between Tehran and Baku in the land part of this route will be significant. If this corridor passes through Azerbaijan, Moscow and Tehran will heavily rely on Baku, Turkey's ally in NATO. It is worth mentioning that this 7200 km long corridor starts from the south of the Indian Ocean, the Oman Sea and the Strait of Hormuz and connects to the Caspian Sea from Iranian ports and from there it reaches the interior of Russia and finally St. Petersburg. In this way, it connects Southwest Asia to Europe. From the Indian port of Mumbai to St. Petersburg, instead of 30 and 45 days, the transportation of goods through the Suez Canal will be reduced to a maximum of 10 days. Another problem that exists in the way of this corridor is the country of Finland, which has recently joined NATO. .