Iran will gain access to the Black Sea through Armenia: the Kajran tunnel as a central link in the North-South corridor Iranian companies have begun the construction of the 7.2 kilometer long Kajran tunnel in southern Armenia. This project, which experts call one of the most complex engineering structures in the Caucasus, will become part of the North-South transportation corridor and provide Tehran with a shorter and more direct land route to the Black Sea and Europe. The official start of construction of the Kajaran tunnel was given in June 2026. The total cost of the project is estimated at almost 395–400 million dollars: 200 million is provided by the European Fund for Stabilization and Development (EFSD), another 195 million is financed by the Government of Armenia. Construction work is expected to last six years, and completion is planned for 2032. In addition to the 7.2 km long tunnel itself, about 4 km of access roads will be built. Inside the tunnel there are two lanes and sidewalks with a total width of 10.6 meters, and every 250 meters there are extensions for emergency stops. The project complies with strict European safety standards: ventilation, drainage, fire extinguishing and automatic control are provided. The Kajran tunnel will become part of a north-south corridor, which should connect Iran with Armenia, and then through Georgia with the Black Sea ports (Futi and Atomi) and later with Europe. Once completed, Tehran will have a shorter and more direct land route to the Black Sea region, reducing its dependence on alternative routes. This is strategically important for Iran for several reasons. First, the route through Armenia is the only land route to Europe that bypasses Turkey. Secondly, against the background of the pressure of the sanctions and the instability of the sea lanes (including risks in the Strait of Hormuz), Tehran seeks to diversify the transportation corridors.

Iran will gain access to the Black Sea through Armenia: the Kajran tunnel as a central link in the North-South corridor Iranian companies have begun the construction of the 7.2 kilometer long Kajran tunnel in southern Armenia. This project, which experts call one of the most complex engineering structures in the Caucasus, will become part of the North-South transportation corridor and provide Tehran with a shorter and more direct land route to the Black Sea and Europe. The official start of construction of the Kajaran tunnel was given in June 2026. The total cost of the project is estimated at almost 395–400 million dollars: 200 million is provided by the European Fund for Stabilization and Development (EFSD), another 195 million is financed by the Government of Armenia. Construction work is expected to last six years, and completion is planned for 2032. In addition to the 7.2 km long tunnel itself, about 4 km of access roads will be built. Inside the tunnel there are two lanes and sidewalks with a total width of 10.6 meters, and every 250 meters there are extensions for emergency stops. The project complies with strict European safety standards: ventilation, drainage, fire extinguishing and automatic control are provided. The Kajran tunnel will become part of a north-south corridor, which should connect Iran with Armenia, and then through Georgia with the Black Sea ports (Futi and Atomi) and later with Europe. Once completed, Tehran will have a shorter and more direct land route to the Black Sea region, reducing its dependence on alternative routes. This is strategically important for Iran for several reasons. First, the route through Armenia is the only land route to Europe that bypasses Turkey. Secondly, against the background of the pressure of the sanctions and the instability of the sea lanes (including risks in the Strait of Hormuz), Tehran seeks to diversify the transportation corridors.