Rail freight from China surges amid Iran’s greater role as transport hub
Iran is advancing its role as a crossroads for major regional transport corridors, having received dozens of inbound freight trains from China over the past year — compared with none in previous years — as it seeks to tap into the vast China-Europe trade route, according to a senior official at the national railway company (IRICA).
Shahriyar Naqizadeh, Director General of International Railway Trade at the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways, said Iran lies at the intersection of critical regional corridors, including the east-west route from China to Europe and the north-south corridor linking Russia to the Indian subcontinent.
“The potential volume of trade between China and Europe exceeds 300 million tons per year, and yet last year only 60 million tons of that was transported by rail,” Naqizadeh said, ISNA reported.
He noted that three meetings held since the beginning of the year (March 21) have been fruitful. “Today, the 44th train is entering the country, and around six more trains are currently en route from China to Iran and will arrive in the coming weeks,” he said.
Describing the total of 50 trains as a landmark shift, Naqizadeh said, “This figure, compared to zero in previous years, is an unprecedented achievement, and this upward trend is continuing.”
He emphasized that expanding rail freight requires a coordinated national effort. “Increasing cargo movement by rail demands special measures and a collective mobilization among all responsible entities so we can fully benefit from this cargo transit opportunity,” he added.
Naqizadeh also highlighted recent diplomatic progress on operational terms. “Fortunately, we have secured agreements with other countries on two key factors shaping transport competitiveness: uniform tariffs for goods and guaranteed transit timelines,” he said. “Those countries have pledged to clear cargo through their territories as quickly as possible.”