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The TRACECA (Transport Corridor Europe Caucasus Asia) Secretariat will soon begin technical studies on the Iran-Azerbaijan-Georgia route, TRACECA Secretary General Asset Assavbayev said in an interview with Report.
"This study aims to demonstrate the feasibility of the route, identify potential obstacles and suggest ways to overcome them. Once all technical parameters have been agreed, the presentation of the results is scheduled for August-September of this year," Assavbayev said.
According to him, the route is one of the main initiatives put forward by Iran as part of its TRACECA chairmanship from February 2025: "This idea is fully supported by the Secretariat. Iran, Azerbaijan and Georgia are member countries of TRACECA, and this trilateral route will create a strategic connection between the Persian Gulf and the Black Sea."
Assavbayev noted that Iran's access to the Persian Gulf, including the port of Bandar Abbas, makes this route particularly important in terms of logistics: "This potential should be used more actively to diversify and expand the route network."
The secretary general said that discussions are currently underway with the Iranian side on technical details for the full operation of the route, adding that cooperation is also being carried out on the development of road transport and other modes of transport:
"The implementation of this project will have a positive impact on the volume of transit traffic in the TRACECA area, including in Azerbaijan. Against the backdrop of geopolitical instability, especially the situation in the Red Sea, the demand for alternative routes is constantly increasing."
He added that for the efficient organization of transit, it is important to accelerate the movement of goods across borders and eliminate a number of bottlenecks: "Azerbaijan is already experiencing an increase in transit flows, but in some cases, the infrastructure is struggling to cope with the increased load. There are also restrictions on cargo that cannot pass through Russia and Iran due to sanctions. In these cases, transportation is carried out through Azerbaijan and the Caspian Sea, which leads to additional loading in these directions. However, for cargo not subject to sanctions, the Iran-Azerbaijan-Georgia route is a real and accessible alternative."
Assavbayev emphasized that all existing TRACECA routes should be used to the maximum extent possible to ensure a balanced distribution of cargo flows and prevent overloading of individual sections.
