MP: Chabahar, crossroads of global trade
Sadeq Dehqan
Staff writer
The Iranian port city of Chabahar can become the fastest transit route between Europe and Asia if it is connected to the national railroad network, Iranian Member of Parliament Esmaeil Hossein-Zehi, told Iran Daily.
Chabahar is located in Iran’s southeastern province of Sistan-Balouchestan. It is Iran’s only ocean port situated near the Sea of Oman, with access to the high seas. Iran plans to turn the port into a transit hub for immediate access to markets in the northern part of the Indian Ocean and Central Asia.
Hossein-Zehi described Chabahar as one of the crossroads of world trade and economy. He added that the railroad project of Chabahar-Zahedan-Sarakhs is currently under construction to link Chabahar port to the country’s national railroad network.
He said that upon completion of the project, the shortest rail route from the north to the south of the country would be established, and the port city will be connected to the Caspian Sea.
He said the Chabahar-Zahedan-Sarakhs railroad project is 1,350 kilometers long, the first part of which connects Chabahar to Zahedan and the Milak border, adjacent to Afghanistan. The lawmaker noted that the second part connects Zahedan to Birjand, Mashhad and Sarakhs. Hossein-Zehi said this railroad line has been connected to the national railroad network from Zahedan. He added that the rail laying has been carried out from the other side to areas near Iranshahr. The lawmaker said the rail laying operations are set to continue toward Milak and Khash.
According to the MP, the completion of the Chabahar-Sarakhs railroad line has transformed the country’s economy, in particular in the southeastern region, and led to the development of transportation and transit of goods.
He said the rail laying of the Chabahar-Sarakhs railroad project started in 2019. The lawmaker noted that the railroad line of Chabahar-Zahedan Milak and Sarakhs should be completed as soon as possible.
Hossein-Zehi called on the government to provide the necessary funds to help the project come to fruition.
He said Afghanistan will also benefit from this railroad and will be able to use Iran’s railroad network to transit and export its goods to other countries across the world.
Hossein-Zehi said China and Russia are ready to help carry out rail laying operations to link the national railroad to Chabahar port due to the importance of the Iranian port city to them. He said the establishment of this railroad will create the shortest route for China and Russia for their trade.
The lawmaker said Moscow and Beijing are prepared to invest in Chabahar port because this route will facilitate the transit of their goods between Asian and European countries.
Hossein-Zehi said freeways and two-way highways should be built to accelerate the transport of goods to Chabahar.
The MP also said Sistan-Balouchestan Province has huge economic and trade potentials for the development of the country.