Iran dismisses canal speculation linking Persian Gulf with the Caspian

Iranian authorities have denied the country has held talks with neighbouring Russia over building a new canal.

Russian media had reported the two nations were looking at building a waterway connecting the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea. Iran has said it is reviewing the idea but has not held official dialogue with Russia yet.

The last few years have been dramatic ones for global canal projects with the widening of the Suez and Panama canals, a mooted Chinese-funded waterway through Nicaragua and speculation that the centuries old plans for a waterway through the Thai isthmus might be revived.