Weeks before the air strikes, a new overland trade route was launched that could help Iran evade sanctions and advance its regional ambitions
This is an ambitious route, traversing Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, and may eventually connect to Africa, the Persian Gulf littoral states and Europe. The rail corridor reflects deepening China-Iran ties amid an increasingly fractured and complex geopolitical environment.
The corridor also positions Iran as a central transit hub. By integrating rail into the land and sea networks, Iran aims to connect China and Central Asia with Europe via Turkey.
Violence at sea: how armed attacks on the high seas affect mariners
