Russia and Iran have signed an agreement to build a rail link between the two countries. The rail link will be part of an international transport corridor linking the north and south of the country.
Russia says the route could rival the Suez Canal as a major route for global trade. Iran has about a quarter of the Middle East's oil reserves, and the West has imposed sanctions on the country over its nuclear program. The West says the sanctions are unjustified, but Iran says they are necessary to protect its national interests.