CAIRO — The disruption of global traffic in the Suez Canal in late March after the giant container ship Ever Given went aground prompted Russia and Iran to mention, once more, the International North-South Transport Corridor as an alternative option to the Suez Canal in the future. 

The Russian and Iranian proposals raised questions as to whether the corridor could affect the revenues generated from the Egyptian canal.

Shipping was halted in the canal March 23 after the Ever Given was stuck sideways on a narrow section of the canal and required almost a week of efforts before being dislodged. 

Speaking to the press ahead of a meeting with his Iranian counterpart in Tehran on April 13, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia and Iran are interested in developing the International North-South Transport Corridor. He added that discussions are underway in Tehran to boost cooperation between the two countries and explore the economic benefits of the corridor, particularly since the disruption of shipping in the Suez Canal has required the consideration of alternative routes.