BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 17. Iran is
interested in expanding rail links with neighboring countries and,
consequently, in increasing rail transport and freight traffic
through the country, Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development
and Executive Director of the Iranian Railways Company Jabbar Ali
Zakeri said at the 9th Transport, Logistics and Related Industries
Exhibition conference in Tehran today, Trend reports.


According to him, transport and freight activities in the
country must be oriented towards transit. So that the
transportation of export, import, and transit cargo is of interest
to all sectors. This strategy will also have a positive impact on
the income of transport companies, manufacturers, and logistics
businessmen.


Zakeri noted that serious steps need to be taken in the railway
sector in the border regions in the east and west of the country.
The construction of a railway line to Iraq has begun at the
Shalamcheh border crossing point in Iran. The Kermanshah-Eslamabad
railway line will soon be commissioned in the country. Thus, the
railway line from the second direction to Iraq from Iran will be
possible through the Khosravi border crossing point.


The Deputy Minister further emphasized that work is progressing
on the Tabriz-Marand-Cheshmeh Soraya railway project, situated
along Iran's border with Türkiye. This new railway line is poised
to connect the existing Sarakhs railway in eastern Iran with
Türkiye, completing the southern route of the East-West Transport
Corridor.


"The railway will facilitate operations at key border crossings,
including Jolfa and Astara in the north, as well as the Caspian and
Amirabad ports. Additionally, it will serve vital crossings at
Inchaburun, Sarakhs, and Lotfabad," he explained. "An increase in
cargo traffic from these routes has already been recorded."







The official also highlighted the success of the Khaf-Herat
railway along the Afghan border, noting that approximately 15,000
tons of cargo were transported last year (March 20, 2024, through
March 20, 2025). Since the start of 2025, cargo transportation by
rail has surged to 400,000 tons. Looking ahead, 1.2 million tons
are expected to be transported via this railway line in the next
year (March 21, 2026, through March 20, 2027).


In line with its strategy to enhance international trade, Iran
is prioritizing the development of its railway infrastructure to
bolster transit and freight transport within the North-South and
East-West International Transport Corridors.


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