Iran seeks to expand its transportation opportunities amid US sanctions by developing new railway connections with neighbouring countries.
The country’s railway expansion is aimed to turn Iran into a transit hub within the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC).
Stressing a beneficial geopolitical location of Iran, national railway’s official Mostafa Davoodi has said that "Iran has a good position as a transport hub that connects Middle East and Europe to the Far East and Southeast Asia, as well as unlock access to the Indian Ocean for Central Asian countries."
He said that a new railway connection between the Iranian border town of Shalamcheh and the southeastern Iraqi city of Basra will be kicked off by February 2026 after a decade of preparation.
The Shalamcheh-Basra railroad is to connect Iran to Najaf and Karbala in Iraq, making a pilgrims’ journey to the Muslim holy sites easy. The new 32-kilomter railroad will expand trade and transportation opportunities between the two countries. Up to 10 million tons of cargo and 12 million passengers are expected to be transported annually, according to Iran’s expectations.
As part of the project, Iran aims to build an overpass on the river that divides the two countries, known as the Arvand River in Iran and Shatt al-Arab in Iraq.
U.S. President Donald Trump insisted on Wednesday that American strikes caused “very severe” damage to Iranian nuclear sites, despite leaked intelligence reports suggesting otherwise.
Iran’s parliamentary committee has approved a draft bill to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) until Tehran receives firm guarantees on the agency’s conduct.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for 25th June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
U.S. and Iranian officials have engaged in dialogue amid recent regional tensions, with Washington expressing cautious optimism about the outcome.
Airlines have cancelled and rerouted flights across the Middle East as the Israel-Iran conflict escalates.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met his Romanian counterpart Nicusor Dan on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague, reaffirming a commitment to deepen bilateral ties and enhance Black Sea security.
Indonesia has conducted the first passenger-carrying test flight of the EHang 216-S flying taxi, marking a milestone in the country's push towards future urban air mobility.
Norway is stepping up military support for Ukraine with a $640 million package aimed at boosting the country's drone capabilities, both on the battlefield and for infrastructure protection.
Ukraine faces a massive housing crisis as the ongoing war leaves over 2.5 million homes damaged or destroyed. Reconstruction efforts are advancing, but the road ahead remains long, complex, and deeply tied to economic, demographic, and security realities.
Afghan farmers are shifting away from opium cultivation as the interim government ramps up efforts to eliminate the drug trade, offering alternative crops and local support.
Iran launched 18 ballistic missiles late Sunday targeting the U.S. military’s Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American installation in the Middle East.
Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across Israel and neighbouring regions early Friday morning, including a Microsoft office complex, according to emergency responders and local media reports.
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
Wizz Air has suspended all flights to and from Tel Aviv, Israel, and its European services to Amman, Jordan, effective immediately until 15 September due to escalating situation in the Middle East. Also, the air carrier temporarily suspended its flights between Astana, Kazakhstan, and Abu Dhabi.
China has unveiled a mosquito-sized bionic drone designed for covert military operations and battlefield reconnaissance, marking a major advance in micro-robotics and stealth technology as part of the country’s growing focus on next-generation warfare capabilities.
Russia has expressed its readiness to support the signing of a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia to ensure regional stability and security.
Masked law enforcement officers have detained Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, leader of the 'Sacred Struggle' movement in Armenia. He is accused of preparing terrorist attacks and an alleged attempt to seize power, according to the Investigative Committee.
Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov has announced a major reform initiative aimed at strengthening national sovereignty in the country’s space sector.
An explosive device detonated on an armoured combat-engineering vehicle in Khan Younis in Gaza, killing seven Israeli soldiers and seriously wounding another soldier on Tuesday (24 June).
Iran’s parliamentary committee has approved a draft bill to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) until Tehran receives firm guarantees on the agency’s conduct.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met his Romanian counterpart Nicusor Dan on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague, reaffirming a commitment to deepen bilateral ties and enhance Black Sea security.
Indonesia has conducted the first passenger-carrying test flight of the EHang 216-S flying taxi, marking a milestone in the country's push towards future urban air mobility.
Norway is stepping up military support for Ukraine with a $640 million package aimed at boosting the country's drone capabilities, both on the battlefield and for infrastructure protection.
Ukraine faces a massive housing crisis as the ongoing war leaves over 2.5 million homes damaged or destroyed. Reconstruction efforts are advancing, but the road ahead remains long, complex, and deeply tied to economic, demographic, and security realities.
Afghan farmers are shifting away from opium cultivation as the interim government ramps up efforts to eliminate the drug trade, offering alternative crops and local support.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment