“On August 22, a memorandum of understanding was signed in Tehran between the customs services of Russia, Iran, and Azerbaijan aimed at simplifying transit transportation.

The memorandum provides for the implementation of coordination mechanisms for the activities of customs authorities of the three countries located along the route of transit goods from Iran to Russia via Azerbaijan and back. This is necessary to accelerate transit transportation along the specified section, which is part of the International North-South Transport Corridor. In particular, the working shifts of customs authorities will be synchronized, which will reduce queues at checkpoints.

The exchange of operational information on transported goods, including dangerous and prohibited ones, as well as vehicles, current work, and further plans for the reconstruction of checkpoints is also provided for. In addition, joint monitoring of the situation and regular coordination meetings of representatives of customs services of the three countries are planned to facilitate transit.

On the same day, Vladimir Bulavin held bilateral talks with Alireza Moghaddasi. The parties discussed current issues of cooperation and outlined further steps to develop the Simplified Customs Corridor project.

The pilot project started on June 30 of this year. Currently, favorable customs clearance is applied to agricultural and food products as part of its implementation, and the involved participants in foreign economic activity, including companies with the status of authorized economic operator (AEO), receive the simplifications provided by the project.

The heads of the customs services of Russia and Iran confirmed their intentions to sign an agreement on mutual recognition of the AEO status as soon as possible, agreed on approaches to exchanging information on the customs value of goods, approved plans for opening customs representations, and further developing cooperation in the field of education and personnel training. The parties also plan to hold joint events (seminars) on topical customs issues for participants in the foreign trade activities of both countries.

Based on the press service of the Federal Customs Service.”