Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi announced that Tehran has agreed with Ankara to construct a new joint rail link to serve as a strategic gateway between Asia and Europe, according to AFP.
The proposed route, referred to in Iran as the Marand-Cheshmeh Soraya railway transit line and extending toward Turkey’s Aralik border region, will span approximately 200 kilometres (120 miles).
Set to take three to four years to complete, the project will cost nearly $1.6 billion.
Iran’s Transport Minister Farzaneh Sadegh has recently revealed the rail line will turn the southern part of the historic Silk Road into an “all-rail corridor ensuring the continuity of the network between China and Europe.”
Moreover, the line would also allow “fast and affordable transport of all types of cargo with minimal stops.”
On Saturday, Araqchi noted that both Iran and Turkey affirmed the need to remove barriers to trade and investment between the two countries.
“The two countries also stressed the importance of the rail link … in the region and expressed hope that the construction of this line can start as soon as possible,” Araqchi said during a joint press conference on Saturday with his Turkish Counterpart Hakan Fidan.
Notably, the ancient Silk Road was an extensive network of trade routes that connected East Asia with the Middle East and Europe for centuries. It also played a crucial role in facilitating the exchange of goods, culture and knowledge across continents.
In recent years, Iran has been intensifying its efforts to expand infrastructure and strengthen trade with neighboring countries as part of efforts to flourish an economy long constrained by decades of international sanctions.
Related Topics:
Riyadh Rail Link to Boost Connectivity across Saudi Arabia’s Capital
Iranian FM to Meet French Counterpart in Paris This Week
6.1-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Western Turkey
