Iran says rail freight transfers with Afghanistan have risen sharply
Jabbarali Zakeri, managing director of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways, said the volume of rail freight transfers between Iran and Afghanistan has risen from less than 15,000 tons a year in the past to about 130,000 tons a month.
He forecast that the figure would increase to about 1.5 million tons by the end of next year.
Zakeri made the remarks while outlining the state of regional rail cooperation, saying rail ties between Iran and Afghanistan, Turkey, Central Asian countries and other neighbours have become more active. According to him, this trend can play a role in supplying essential goods, expanding exports, increasing imports and strengthening rail transit.
The head of Iran Railways also announced the relaunch of the Tehran-Van passenger train after a five-year suspension, saying Iran’s international rail links had expanded during the 14th administration.
Elsewhere in his remarks, he referred to damage to Iran’s rail network during the war and said six important bridges along the east-west and north-south corridors were targeted and destroyed at various times. According to Zakeri, these bridges were rebuilt and put back into operation within 12 to 24 hours, and in more complex cases within a maximum of five days.
Iran is considered one of the region’s key transit routes, and its rail connection with Afghanistan, especially through the eastern border crossings, has in recent years been one of the main areas of economic cooperation between the two sides.
