Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his Kazakh counterpart Kassym-Jomart Tokayev

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi announced Sunday that today marks the day Iran can begin transiting Kazakh goods to Europe.

Raisi made the comments in a cabinet meeting, which was also attended by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, adding that one of the priorities of the Iranian government is to play an effective role "in increasing regional integration by expanding trade through Iranian lands as a secure, reasonably priced, and quick route."

The Iranian President said Iran can act as a transit route connecting east and south Asia to Europe as well, and that one of the priorities of the Iranian government is to resolve the barriers impeding railway trade.

He further explained that Iran is a low-cost and fast route for Asian and European countries and that Tehran's security has highlighted the role it can play in regional transit.

For his part, the Kazakh president announced that Kazakhstan's first transit train through the east-west corridor is crossing Iranian soil, and has left the Tehran railway station en route to Turkey.

He also added that his country has begun to allow Iranian citizens to travel to Kazakhstan for two weeks without visas.

Earlier today, the Azerbaijani Oil Ministry announced Sunday that Iran and Azerbaijan agreed on establishing a joint committee for the development of oil and gas fields in the Caspian Sea.

In a statement, the ministry added that "the agreement could help secure joint development, production, and export of energy resources to benefit the two neighboring countries."