Iraq, Iran agree to build railway linking both countries

 Iraq, Iran agree to build railway linking both countries

The flags of Iraq and Iran. Photo: Reuters

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Iraq and Iran agreed to start the construction of the Shalamcheh-Basra railway, the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported.

The Iraqi Minister of Transport, Razzaq Mohibis Al-Saadawi, met in Iran with the Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Mehrdad Bazrpash, and announced they agreed on the implementation of the railway project.

The two ministers discussed the mechanism of constructing the Shalamcheh-Basra railway and all other issues related to the implementation of the project, IRNA mentioned.

The Iraqi Minister of Transport affirmed that the path of the railway has been specified by the Iraqi side, indicating Iraq’s seriousness to start implementing the project.

Al-Saadawi added that the Iraqi government took into consideration the allocations for this project in the new financial budget.

IRNA added that the two ministers also discussed the project of Khosravi railway and highway leading to Baghdad, in addition to issues related to land maritime cooperation.

The Iranian minister also called for increasing the number of flights between Iran and Iraq, from 120 to 200 flights per week.