Tehran, September 2 (MRUD NEWS)—Iran Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Mehrdad Bazrpash, has travelled to Abadan today along with the first Vice President of Iran, Mohammad Mokhber, in order to start the construction operation of Shalamcheh-Basra Railway. 

Shalamcheh-Basra Railway marks a historical link as negotiations for a 32 km railway between Iran and Iraq had been ongoing for about the last 20 years. 

The construction begins after the initial agreement signed on December 2021, implementation agreement on April 2023, and signing a MoU for technical measures between Iran and Iraq Railways on May, 2023. 

The completion of the Shalamcheh-Basra Railway will boost trade and commerce between Iran and Iraq. It also provides access to other Eastern countries through Iran's railway network to the western and Mediterranean countries.  

After construction, this railway line will play an important role in facilitating travel between Iran and Iraq, especially in the pilgrimage cities of Najaf and Karbala. 

The railway lines in Iran are connected to the border point of Shalamcheh. Also, in Iraq, the railway is connected from Basra to cities such as Karbala and Baghdad, and if there is a connection between Shalamcheh and Basra, the rail network of the two countries will be connected to each other.