Iran to invest money in Khoramshahr Basra railway project in Iraq
Tehran, Iran, Jan .17
Trend:
Iran has agreed to invest in the Khoramshahr Basra railway project in Iraq that considered as one of the most important projects of Hassan Rouhani's government.
"This project is one of the priorities of the government, the primary agreements over this project have been completed and Iran is to provide the financing," said Minister of Roads and Urban Development Mohammad Eslami, Trend reports citing Mehr News Agency.
He noted the railroad would link Iran's Khorramshahr County in Khuzestan Province to Basra Province in southern Iraq through Shalamcheh route and by crossing the Arvand river (also known as the Shatt-al-Arab).
Referring to recent negotiations of Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif with his Iraqi counterpart in Baghdad, Eslami added that the topic of Khorramshahr – Basra railway has been discussed in the negotiations, two sides also signed a memorandum of understanding for investment in the project.
"Hopefully, early results will surface, by coordination, and Iran can start the installment of 35-kilometer rail, alongside a railway bridge on Arvand river as soon as possible," said the official.
"The project would facilitate the cargo and passenger transport through railroad to Iraq,", he said.
"We are waiting for the final coordination to start the project. The Foreign Minister's last week negotiations with Iraqi government were useful and hopefully they will lead to final decision and start of the operation," he added.
Iran’s railway system is linked to railways of Central Asia, China and Russia and upon the completion of the 35-kilometer Shalamcheh-Basra railway, Iraq will be able to transfer goods and passengers to Russia and China and vice versa.
