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.
The 18th meeting of the Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation between Iran and Russia is scheduled to take place in Moscow from April 23 to 25. The event aims to strengthen bilateral collaboration across a wide range of sectors.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi will visit China on Tuesday, days ahead of Tehran-Washington nuclear talks in Oman. Araqchi recently stated that Iran consistently coordinates with allies Russia and China on nuclear-related issues.
Tehran and Washington have wrapped up their second round of nuclear talks, aiming to revive stalled diplomacy and explore the path to a potential agreement.
Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said of Oman is scheduled to visit Moscow on Monday, just days after the commencement of a new round of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks mediated by Muscat.
Despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s reluctance to support military action, Israel has not ruled out launching a limited strike on Iran's nuclear facilities in the coming months, according to Israeli and other sources familiar with the matter.
Azerbaijan's Minister of Culture Adil Karimli met his Kyrgyz counterpart Mirbek Mambetaliev in Bishkek to discuss cultural collaboration, highlighting key initiatives like the Kyrgyz Culture Days in Baku and joint projects like the new school in Aghdam.
Azerbaijan and Algeria held their second round of talks in Algiers, focusing on boosting relations in politics, trade, and energy, including the 2026 Islamic Summit. They also discussed regional issues and cooperation in multilateral organizations.
Australia’s top political leaders doubled down on plans to ban social media access for children under 16, showing rare unity on the issue ahead of the May 3 election even as pressure from tech giants is expected to mount.
The IMF has lowered global and U.S. economic growth forecasts, citing Trump-era tariffs and rising uncertainty. Global growth is expected at 2.8% this year, while U.S. growth may slow to 1.8%, with heightened recession and inflation risks.
China’s Shenzhen Hasee Computer Co. is considering launching laptop manufacturing operations in Azerbaijan, following key talks with local investment authorities.
The Russian ruble has emerged as the top-performing currency globally in 2025, registering an impressive 38% appreciation against the US dollar since the beginning of the year, according to a report by Bloomberg.
The Holy Fire ceremony stands as one of Christianity's most enduring and mysterious rituals, drawing thousands of pilgrims to Jerusalem each year.
Pope Francis's relationship with Azerbaijan has evolved significantly over the years, characterized by diplomatic exchanges, promotion of religious tolerance, and peace advocacy in the Caucasus region.
Severe rainfall on April 17 led to flooding and landslides in the Piedmont region, prompting a large-scale emergency response from over 400 firefighters.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 16th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Azerbaijan's Minister of Culture Adil Karimli met his Kyrgyz counterpart Mirbek Mambetaliev in Bishkek to discuss cultural collaboration, highlighting key initiatives like the Kyrgyz Culture Days in Baku and joint projects like the new school in Aghdam.
Azerbaijan and Algeria held their second round of talks in Algiers, focusing on boosting relations in politics, trade, and energy, including the 2026 Islamic Summit. They also discussed regional issues and cooperation in multilateral organizations.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Jeddah on Tuesday for a two-day visit aimed at strengthening economic, energy, and diaspora-related ties with Saudi Arabia.
On April 22, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev arrived in the People's Republic of China.
Azerbaijan and Ukraine have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in social protection and rehabilitation, as officials from both countries highlighted expanding ties and shared efforts to support war-affected communities and advance social reforms.
Azerbaijan's Minister of Culture Adil Karimli met his Kyrgyz counterpart Mirbek Mambetaliev in Bishkek to discuss cultural collaboration, highlighting key initiatives like the Kyrgyz Culture Days in Baku and joint projects like the new school in Aghdam.
Azerbaijan and Algeria held their second round of talks in Algiers, focusing on boosting relations in politics, trade, and energy, including the 2026 Islamic Summit. They also discussed regional issues and cooperation in multilateral organizations.
Australia’s top political leaders doubled down on plans to ban social media access for children under 16, showing rare unity on the issue ahead of the May 3 election even as pressure from tech giants is expected to mount.
The IMF has lowered global and U.S. economic growth forecasts, citing Trump-era tariffs and rising uncertainty. Global growth is expected at 2.8% this year, while U.S. growth may slow to 1.8%, with heightened recession and inflation risks.
China’s Shenzhen Hasee Computer Co. is considering launching laptop manufacturing operations in Azerbaijan, following key talks with local investment authorities.
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