Iran’s transport minister has discussed with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliev the idea of a new road project that passes through Iran and connects Azerbaijan to its enclave of Nakhchivan.

Mehrdad Bazrpash met Aliev in Baku where the two sides discussed the Iran Road initiative, a project that will accommodate up to 15 million metric tons of cargo transit, according to a Saturday report by the IRNA.

Bazrpash said in the meeting that the road, which will also be known as the Aras corridor, will connect Ağbənd to Jolfa.

He said the road’s construction would contribute to more peace in the Caucuses region, especially after Azerbaijan liberated areas that were occupied for decades by ethnic Armenians.

During the meeting, Bazrpash also discussed increased oil and gas cooperation between Iran and Azerbaijan while stressing the need for a jointly-built dam on the Aras River to start taking water.

Aliev, on his part, stated that his country is persistently working on establishing both bilateral and multilateral transport corridors. He also emphasized that the friendship between Iran and Azerbaijan is of great significance for the region.

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