Iran could become a transport hub for importing goods to Russia, including grain and sunflower oil, says the Iranian ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali. The two countries are also discussing the construction of a railway track from the Persian Gulf to St. Petersburg via Rasht-Astara. Russia is also open to the idea of direct flights between Makhachkala and Tehran. The North-South corridor, an intergovernmental agreement for a multimodal transport corridor from India, Iran, and the Persian Gulf countries through Russia to Europe, could benefit from this transportation link.