Iran
Will Need Russia's Help to Build Its Caspian Sea-Persian Gulf Canal
Iran's
ambitious project to build a 'trans-Iranian' canal from the Caspian
Sea to the Persian Gulf will only be possible with Russia's help,
says Bahram Amirahmadiyan, an expert on political geography at the
University of Tehran.
30
March, 2016
Over
the weekend, media
reports recalled
Iran's plans to construct an artificial trans-Iranian canal
linking the Caspian Sea to the Persian Gulf. Negotiations on the
project are said to be underway, with the canal itself
expected to be commissioned in the 2020s.
The
project, which faces many potential
challenges that
must be addressed before and during construction, was
endorsed by former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad several years
ago, and in 2012, former energy minister Majid Namjoo calculated
that the project would cost approximately $7 billion.
Asked
to comment on the ambitious scheme, Bahram Amirahmadiyan, a
member of the faculty of World Studies at the
University of Tehran, told Sputnik that Iran will definitely
look for Russia's assistance, and that of other countries
in the region, to complete the project.
"We
know by the example of other countries that building a
canal to connect two major bodies of water is feasible. As
an example, there is the Volga-Don Canal." Tehran, the academic
added, has also taken an interest in the proposed Russian
project to connect the Caspian and Black Seas, known as the
Eurasia Canal project.
"For
now, due to the reorientation of the geopolitical interests
of some countries, this project has not moved beyond the
planning stage," Amirahmadiyan noted.
The
other project Iran is looking at is the above-mentioned plan
to connect the Caspian Sea with the Persian Gulf or,
alternatively, the Gulf of Oman.
"The
history of this project dates back several decades, and it is
rightly considered to be strategically important, since it
would [exit into] international waters. Accordingly, the US military
ships which currently operate in the Persian Gulf, and the ships
of their allies, would run into certain difficulties
in their freedom of movement. Therefore, considering
current geopolitical realities, such a canal has strategic
significance for Russian-Iranian relations."
Factually,
Amirahmadiyan explained, "two variants for the route are
being considered. The first is through an area between the
city of Gorgan and the Mazandaran province [in the north],
toward Sahrud, and from there to the country's central
provinces and the Port of Chabahar (Iran's only port in the
Gulf of Oman), and on into the Indian Ocean."
"The
second option looks shorter on paper, and would connect the
southwestern Caspian Sea to Abadan and Khorramshahr (on the
border with Iraq) with the Persian Gulf."
Two
variants for the Great Persian Canal, the western route (light blue)
and the eastern route (dark blue)
"The
second option looks more attractive from the financial
standpoint, and discussion on the prospects for its
implementation has long occupied the minds of Iranian
authorities. However, there is still no consensus on the plan's
feasibility."
©
PHOTO: INTERRAOEXPORT.RU
Part
of the discussion on the proposed Caspian Sea-Persian Gulf
canal, the expert noted, includes focus on proposals to transfer
water from the Caspian Sea to central Iran to help
address the problems of water scarcity in agriculture.
"However, such an effort may carry its own negative
consequences, such as a disturbance of the ecological
system, climate change and other issues."
So
far in its history, Amirahmadiyan noted, the financial aspect
has always been the main stumbling block when it comes
to implementing the Caspian Sea-Persian Gulf canal project.
"For
Iran and Russia, if they want to implement the project together,
it will be necessary, in the current economic climate,
to carefully weigh the costs and to make all the necessary
calculations, because the construction costs would require enormous
investment."
"Another
important element is logistics. When the canal is built, it will be
necessary to somehow establish transit links between the
territories to its east and west, which will obviously require
additional investment and capital expenditures. Another issue [which
must be dealt with] is the difference in elevation between the
Iranian regions which must be connected."
Finally,
"in order for the canal to actually be navigable, it
will require a great depth, and a width which is sufficient for the
free movement of ships. And that is a big difficulty given the
difference in elevation between the Caspian and Persian
Gulf area regions. It will be necessary to equip the canal
with locks."
In
any case, Amirahmadiyan said, if implemented, such a project would be
of tremendous strategic importance for Russia, providing,
through Iran, a naval route to the Indian Ocean.
©
SPUTNIK/ ANTON DENISOV
"In
the early 2000s," the expert recalled, "countries signed
on to the North-South Transport Corridor," a ship, rail and
road route linking Russia to India via Iran. "But this
project has [so far] remained on paper."
"Therefore,
for such a large-scale project to be implemented, it will
require a series of very careful and detailed studies, technical
calculations, consideration of the economic risks, as well
as ecological and even cultural evaluations. After all, our
continent has never seen such a project of such magnitude
before."
Ultimately,
the academic noted, "for Iran, this project is very important.
Iranians even call it 'Iran rud' ('Iran's River') –a big 'river'
which would flow across the country, linking the south to the
north."
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"If
the project is implemented, we will become witness to important
[economic] changes. First of all, Iran will get an unprecedented
new national transport network, which will modernize, optimize,
accelerate and simplify sea-based passenger travel and cargo
shipping, most importantly the transport of energy resources –
oil and gas."
©
AP PHOTO/ ALEXANDER NEMENOV
"But
the final word on the project falls to the specialists,
to politicians and diplomats, who, through a comprehensive
approach, can give the project new life. Of course, this will require
the intensification of cooperation between the specialized
agencies of Iran and Russia, including the joint Iranian-Russian
Trade Commission."
Moreover,
Amirahmadiyan noted, "the authorities of other Caspian
countries too must not stay on the sidelines. States such
as Kazakstan, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan must also take part
in the project. I think that if an economic union of Caspian
countries were established, their joint efforts would benefit the
implementation of a whole range of projects related to the
Caspian Sea."
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