Russia is moving quickly to strengthen the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a key trade network that links Russia, Central Asia, Iran, and India, and connects Northern Europe with South Asia. For Moscow, this corridor is not just an economic asset but a strategic shield against isolation, Newsweek reports.
Faster, cheaper, safer transport reduces Moscow’s vulnerability to Western sanctions due to its war against Ukraine, while deepening ties with India and potentially China. Meanwhile, Iran is emerging as a major Eurasian trade hub, gaining influence without firing a single shot.
Economic and geopolitical gains for Moscow and Tehran
Washington is wary: growing Iranian control over the INSTC could undermine sanctions and shift regional power.
For Russia, the corridor is a lifeline, letting goods and energy bypass the long, risky sea routes via the Black Sea, Suez Canal, and Red Sea.
In the long run, the INSTC could link with East–West routes to China and Europe, creating a fully integrated Eurasian rail and maritime network. For Moscow, it’s a lasting alternative to constrained sea lanes. For Tehran, its geography has become a source of power, generating revenue and strategic leverage.
Challenges for the US and limitations for Russia
For Washington and other Western powers, the INSTC poses a challenge: how to balance trade and sanctions policies while monitoring Moscow and Tehran's reshaping of global logistics and regional power dynamics.
Russia faces logistical limits: the route is long, expensive, and exposed to geopolitical risks.
Current constraints:
- Most Russian cargo still moves through the Black Sea, under Türkiye’s control.
- Then it passes the Mediterranean and the Suez Canal
This route is long, costly, and geopolitically risky.
INSTC alternative:
- Rail to Baku (Azerbaijan)
- Across the Caspian Sea
- Rail through northern Iran (Rasht–Astara) to Bandar Abbas on the Persian Gulf
The INSTC is more than a trade route. It is a geopolitical game-changer for Russia and Iran, challenging Western influence and redefining Eurasian power.
