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The Chief Executive of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways (RAI) has said that Iran and Iraq have agreed to resume the construction operation of the Shalamcheh-Basra Railway and relaunching of the hybrid Tehran-Karbala train.

Mi'ad Salehi, the CEO of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways, in a post on his Twitter account wrote:

"In the course of the joint economic commission held between Iran and Iraq ... very good agreements were reached with the new Iraqi government in the rail sector, especially on accelerating the construction operation of the Shalamcheh-Basra Railway. The two sides also expressed their readiness for rail connection via the Khosravi Border Crossing."

It is hoped that with the acceleration of the implementation of these agreements, the two nations will benefit from the salient advantages of the project optimally, he added.

In 2014, an MoU was signed between Tehran and Baghdad for the construction of this railway, according to which, Iran undertook to design and build a bridge over the Arvand River, and the Iraqi side undertook to build a 32-kilometer railway from the Shalamcheh border to the Basra railway station on Iraqi soil.

By linking railways with Iran, Iraq is going to also access Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and the northern regions, including the Caucasus, Central Asia, and the Far East.

The completion of the Shalamcheh-Basra railway can be very effective in the expansion of trade between the two countries.

(Source: Tasnim, under Creative Commons licence)

The Iranian Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance said three joint industrial towns between Iran and Iraq will be launched in the border areas in the Iraqi provinces of Maysan (Missan), Basra and Wasit.

Seyed Ehsan Khandouzi (pictured) made the remarks on the sidelines of the unveiling ceremony of "Factoring System of Private Contracts", held at the venue of the ministry on Wenesday.

Turning to the 5th Iran-Iraq Joint Economic Commission meeting held recently in Baghdad, he said:

"Of the salient agreements made with the Iraqi officials and given the high potential of knowledge-based companies, joint production projects between Iran and Iraq with the high added value will be launched in the three provinces of Maysan, Basar and Wasit."

He said that during his recent visit to Iraq, "We witnessed the materialization of the serious will between the two countries for the implementation of joint projects which have fallen into oblivion for years including the project of construction operation of the Shalamcheh-Basra Railway."

In this regard, the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development and the Iraqi government announced they are going to take effective steps in line with completing the construction operation of this giant railway project, the economy minister added.

Of other issues discussed between Iranian and Iraqi authorities at the 5th Iran-Iraq Joint Economic Commission meeting, he pointed to the technical and engineering services and said that the two countries vowed to enhance their cooperation in this field.

Khandouzi also referred to the 20-percent growth of trade exchanges between Iran and Iraq in the 11 months of the current Iranian year ( March 21, 2022 to February 21, 2023) and added that bilateral trade volume would be increased in the next Iranian calendar year of 1402 (to start March 21, 2023).

(Source: Tasnim, under Creative Commons licence)

By John Lee.

Iran's Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Rostam Qasemi, has said the Shalamcheh-Basra railway project, linking Iraq and Iran, will be completed within two years.

He added that a joint venture between the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways and Iraqi Republic Railways (IRR) will be set up in two months.

The most important part of the project is the construction of a bridge between the two countries.

According to previous information from the Iranian Tasnim news agency, the $150-million project is funded on both sides of the border by Iran's Mostazafan Foundation (MFJ), which it describes as "a semi-governmental charity".

(Source: Iranian Ministry of Roads and Urban Development)

By Al Monitor staff. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.

Iran and Iraq again agree to connect their railway networks

Both countries pledged to build the Basra-Shalamcheh railway years ago but have yet to do so.

Click here to read the full article.

By John Lee.

The Iraqi Cabinet has approved the construction of the new railway between Basra and Shalamcheh [Shalamijah, Shalamjah], on the Iranian border.

The line forms the Iraqi leg of the rail link between Basra and the Iranian city of Khoramshahr.

According to previous information from the Iranian Tasnim news agency, the $150-million project is funded on both sides of the border by Iran's Mostazafan Foundation (MFJ), which it describes as "a semi-governmental charity". It adds that the link between Shalamcheh and Khoramshahr has already been completed.

(Source: Govt of Iraq)

By John Lee.

Trade reportedly resumed on Sunday at the Shalamijah (Shalamcheh) border crossing between Iraq and Iran.

According to Anadolu Agency, the crossing was closed from 31st July 31 until 8th August due to coronavirus.

(Source: Anadolu Agency)

(Picture credit: Tasnim, under Creative Commons licence)

A senior Iraqi official said the construction work for establishing a major railway project connecting the Arab country to neighboring Iran will get underway not in the too distant future.

"The railway between Iran and Iraq through the Shalamcheh link will get going soon," said Qasim al-Araji, a national security adviser to the Iraqi government, in a tweet on Thursday.

The announcement comes just days after a high-ranking Iraqi delegation traveled to Iran to discuss key issues with officials in Tehran, Press TV reported.

The announcement by Araji, a former interior minister of Iraq, could be a sign that Iran and Iraq have reached fresh arrangements on how they can finish a project that that has stalled on the Iraqi side of the border for almost eight years.

Iran's Mostazafan Foundation (MFJ), a semi-governmental charity with years of experience in construction activities, is responsible for funding and execution of the entire project in Iran and Iraq.

Iran has finished its side of the railway, a 17-koilometer link between the cities of Khoramshahr and Shalamcheh. However, MFJ plans for continuing the project into Iraq hit a snag in 2014 when the Arab country became involved in an extensive war on terror.

The $150-million project, which spans 47 kilometers through the two territories to reach the Iraqi city of Basra, has also faced issues like mine clearance inside Iraq.

(Source: Tasnim, under Creative Commons licence)

By John Lee.

Iraq has reportedly partially reopened its southern Shalamcheh border crossing with Iran, more than three months after it was closed to help combat the spread of the coronavirus / COVID-19.

According to Shafaaq, the crossing will open every Wednesday and Sunday from now on, but only for the trade of foodstuffs; it will allow in 500 trucks per week from Iran.

(Sources: Shafaaq, Reuters)

An Iranian official denied the “fake” reports about the closure of the common border with Iraq, saying Iranian trucks are exporting commodities to the Arab country via all border crossings without any problem.

In an interview with Tasnim, chairman of the Iran-Iraq joint chamber of commerce, Yahya Al-e Eshaq, said Iranian trucks are exporting shipments to Iraq via the Tamarchin, Bashmagh, Khosravi, Parvizkhan, Shalamcheh and Chazzabeh border crossings on a daily basis and without any problem.

He added that there has been ups and downs in the land freight at the Mehran border crossing, but so far at least 800 trucks have entered Iraq from there. “At present, no Iranian export truck is stranded at this border crossing.”

Al-e Eshaq said the “fake and unreal” reports about closure of the Iran-Iraq border following the outbreak of the coronavirus are part of the attempts by the “enemies of Islamic Republic of Iran seeking to wage a psychological war”.

“It is natural for the US to do its utmost to isolate and lock Iran’s economy, but it will definitely fail (to do so),” he went on to say.

(Source: Tasnim, under Creative Commons licence)

Iran’s Ambassador to Iraq Iraj Masjedi (pictured) praised the Baghdad government’s move to remove visa restrictions for Iranian pilgrims visiting the Arab country during the Arbaeen season and said the Islamic Republic will do the same for the Iraqi nationals in the near future.

Speaking at a meeting of the Arbaeen Headquarters of the western province of Ilam on Tuesday, Masjedi hailed the recent reopening of the Khosravi border crossing and the removal of visa restrictions for Iranians during the Arbaeen season, which marks the 40th day of the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS), the third Shiite Imam.

He further said Iraqi nationals will soon be allowed to enter Iran without visas for 65 days.

To reciprocate Iraq’s move regarding visa-free travels for Iranian pilgrims, Iran plans to allow Iraqi nationals to enter the country without visas for 65 days as of October 24, he added.

Speaking on Monday, Hossein Zolfaqari, Iran’s deputy interior minister for security affairs, said three million pilgrims had crossed the country’s four borders with Iraq for Arbaeen pilgrimage by then.

This year, the four borders of Khosravi, Mehran, Chazzabeh, and Shalamcheh are open to the Arbaeen pilgrims.

Arbaeen, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, comes 40 days after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of the third Shiite Imam.

Each year, a huge crowd of Shiites flock to the Iraqi city of Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located, to perform mourning rites.

In August, Iran and Iraq signed an agreement in Tehran to reopen the Khosravi border crossing and remove visa restrictions for Iranian Arbaeen pilgrims.

Iran and Iraq also agreed to raise the level of services and facilities for the pilgrims and enhance border security during the Arbaeen season, which will culminate in a large gathering in Karbala on October 19.

(Source: Tasnim, under Creative Commons licence)