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Iran Turkey discuss new rail link broader transport cooperation

· 2 min read

TEHRAN – Iran and Turkey have discussed expanding transport cooperation, including a new rail connection at the Cheshmeh Soraya–Aralik border crossing and the revival of passenger train services between Tehran and major Turkish cities, Iran’s Transport Minister said.

Iran, Turkey discuss new rail link, broader transport cooperation

Farzaneh Sadegh met Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu on the sidelines of the second meeting of transport ministers from Islamic countries, according to Iran’s Ministry of Roads and Urban Development.

The two sides reviewed cooperation in rail, road and air transport and reaffirmed their commitment to broadening ties across all sectors.

Among the issues discussed were increasing capacity at shared border crossings, establishing a new rail link at Cheshmeh Soraya–Aralik to complete the east–west rail transit corridor, expanding roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) capacity across Lake Van, and resuming Tehran–Ankara and Tehran–Istanbul passenger train services.

Sadegh said the two countries had held a joint transport committee meeting after a three-year hiatus, describing it as one of the most productive sessions in its history, with discussions conducted at both technical and strategic levels.

She added that a trilateral meeting between Iran, Turkey and Uzbekistan held on the sidelines of the Islamic countries’ transport ministers’ summit was one of the early outcomes of enhanced coordination between Tehran and Ankara.

Uraloglu expressed readiness to further develop cooperation in rail, road and air transport, the ministry said.

EF/MA

source: tehrantimes.com