Russia sends more than 300 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Iran via Azerbaijan

Russia has delivered a large shipment of humanitarian aid to Iran, as ongoing conflict damages health infrastructure and leaves civilians in urgent need of care.

The cargo train, organised by Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations, arrived this week at Azerbaijan Railways’ Karadag station. Iranian-registered lorries will then transport the supplies to health authorities across Iran for distribution, Russian officials said.

Iran had requested urgent medical assistance after recent attacks damaged hospitals and ambulance services, leaving many injured and placing severe strain on the country’s healthcare system.

The delivery follows an earlier shipment in March, when more than 13 tonnes of medicines and supplies were sent along the same route.

Praise for Azerbaijan's crucial role 

Azerbaijan’s role as a transit hub highlights its strategic importance in a crisis that has reverberated far beyond national borders. On 11 March, Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for assisting with the evacuation of Russian citizens from Iran and facilitating aid deliveries.

The shipments come amid a major escalation that began on 28 February, when the U.S. and Israel launched co-ordinated military strikes on Iran, saying the operation was intended to counter Tehran’s missile and nuclear capabilities.

The offensive, which has continued for weeks, prompted widespread retaliatory strikes by Iran against military and allied positions across the region, and caused extensive damage to infrastructure and civilian services.

The conflict has had significant humanitarian consequences, with damage to health facilities compounding the hardship faced by ordinary Iranians.

International agencies have repeatedly warned that attacks on essential services risk deepening civilian suffering and complicating relief efforts.

Humanitarian workers say that, while large-scale aid deliveries help meet immediate needs, they also highlight the broader toll the conflict has taken on communities, particularly in areas where access to basic healthcare has been disrupted.

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As countries continue to debate diplomatic and military responses, Moscow’s delivery of medical aid via Azerbaijan reflects one of the few areas of co-operation in an otherwise fraught geopolitical landscape.

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