Iran, Iraq underscore completion of Shalamcheh-Basra railway
Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani, during his meeting with Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Farzaneh Sadeq, stressed the expansion of rail and transit cooperation between the two countries and the necessity of completing the Shalamcheh-Basra railway to facilitate the transportation of pilgrims in Arbaeen.
Sudani emphasized enhancing rail and transit collaboration, particularly in the development route project, and underscored the urgency of finalizing the Shalamcheh-Basra railway, IRNA reported.
He described the project as critical for transporting pilgrims from both countries and Central Asia, especially during the Arbaeen pilgrimage.
Arbaeen marks the 40th day since the martyrdom of Imam Hossein, the third Shia imam and the grandson of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). Every year, Muslim pilgrims from across the world, including from Iran, flock to the Iraqi city of Karbala to mark Arbaeen, where the holy shrine of Imam Hossein is located.
Sadeq traveled to Iraq with the aim of developing transportation relations and inspecting the Shalamcheh-Basra railway project.
Prior to meeting the Iraqi prime minister, she also held discussions with Razzaq Muhaibis, Iraq’s minister of transport, and Abdul Amir al-Shamri, Iraq’s minister of interior.
During an earlier meeting with Iraq’s transport minister, Sadeq stated that transportation cooperation between the two countries is “satisfactory” and stressed, “Iraq must accelerate the construction of the Shalamcheh-Basra railway by handing over demined land.”
With the completion of demining operations along the Shalamcheh-Basra railway route, the implementation of the critical cross-border project by Iran’s Ministry of Roads and Urban Development will proceed according to the predetermined schedule.
The plan includes three main components, such as constructing the Shalamcheh railway station, building the Shalamcheh passenger terminal and completing the Basra drawbridge.