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Iran and Türkiye have reached an agreement to construct a new railway line aimed at creating a strategic transport corridor between Asia and Europe, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced Sunday.
The planned route, known as the Marand-Cheshmeh Soraya railway transit line on the Iranian side, will extend approximately 200 kilometers toward Türkiye's Aralik border region. Iranian authorities estimate the project will cost roughly $1.6 billion and require three to four years to complete.
The railway is designed to modernize a southern section of what was historically the Silk Road, the network of trade routes that connected East Asia to the Middle East and Europe for centuries. Iranian Transport Minister Farzaneh Sadegh said earlier this month that the line would create an "all-rail corridor ensuring the continuity of the network between China and Europe."
The infrastructure would enable "fast and cheap transport of all types of cargo with minimal stops," Sadegh added, positioning the route as a competitive alternative for international freight movement.
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During a joint press conference Saturday with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan, Araghchi said both nations "placed emphasis on the need to remove barriers to trade and investment between the two countries." The ministers expressed optimism that construction could begin in the near term, stressing the railway's regional significance.
The announcement comes as Iran pursues expanded infrastructure development with neighboring countries to counter the economic impact of international sanctions that have constrained its economy for decades. The country has increasingly looked to regional partnerships as Western sanctions have limited its access to global financial systems and markets.
The project aligns with China's Belt and Road Initiative, launched in 2013 as a massive infrastructure development strategy spanning maritime, road and rail networks across multiple continents. Sometimes called the "New Silk Road," the initiative seeks to enhance global trade connectivity, and Iran has positioned itself as a potential link in routes connecting Chinese manufacturing centers to European markets.
The Marand-Cheshmeh Soraya line would provide an alternative land route for goods moving between Asia and Europe, potentially reducing reliance on longer maritime shipping lanes or other overland corridors that pass through different countries.
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