Commercial shipping between Azerbaijan and Iran resumes after long hiatus

Commercial vessel traffic between Azerbaijan and Iran has resumed after being suspended for an extended period due to sediment buildup in Iran’s Astara port, Saeed Rasouli, Iran’s Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development and head of the Ports and Maritime Organization, said.

Report informs, citing the Telegram channel Azad Iran, that Rasouli said the first commercial ship from Azerbaijan has already docked at the port of Astara, carrying 1,600 tons of construction materials.

The suspension of traffic was caused by a drop in the Caspian Sea water level and accumulated sediment in the port’s entrance channel. Dredging operations began in April, and 150,000 cubic meters of sediment have been removed so far.

Rasouli noted that reopening the port will boost Iran’s trade and transportation capabilities on the Caspian Sea and contribute to the development of regional port infrastructure.