Iran, Key To Central Asia Energy Routes: President

Tehran, Sept. 13, IRNA - President Hassan Rouhani said that Iran is instrumental in the establishment of an energy corridor in Central Asian region. “It is clear that without Iran’s presence, designing transportation corridors and energy transmission routes in the (Central Asian) region would be economically unjustified,” SHANA quoted the president as saying in a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. “Enjoying huge energy reserves and given its geostrategic position, the Islamic Republic has been instrumental in regional convergence,” he added. Rouhani said the countries in the Central Asian region should expand their connection routes in order to have access to world markets, adding that Iran-Turkmenistan-Kazakhstan railroad is expected to come on-stream by November. The president added that a corridor envisaged will connect Iran-Turkmenistan- Uzbekistan and Oman will facilitate access from Central Asia to the Persian Gulf via Iran. /end