Pezeshkian hails completion of Ardabil-Mianeh railway after 22 years
Iran has completed the 173-kilometer Ardabil-Mianeh railway in northwest of Iran after 22 years despite crises, wars, sanctions and other challenges, President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Tuesday.
According to IRNA, Pezeshkian made the remarks during a webinar marking the inauguration of the railway line, saying construction of the project had begun more than two decades ago. He said that, based on standard procedures and the usual pace of project execution in recent years, the remaining sections should have taken three to four years to complete, but the government finished the work within 18 months by mobilizing all its capabilities.
"The completion of this project has shown that the Islamic Republic of Iran continues to move forward even under the most difficult crisis conditions and, with the cooperation of officials, lawmakers and the noble people, will overcome challenges," he said.
The country, already hit by Western sanctions over its nuclear program, has also faced growing external economic and maritime pressure following a US-Israeli military conflict that began on February 28. The tensions were accompanied by additional US restrictions targeting Iran’s shipping and oil trade, including measures described as a naval blockade imposed since mid-April.
The railway line was completed to facilitate passenger and freight transportation, expand transport infrastructure in northwestern Iran and respond to the long-standing demands of the people of Ardabil Province.
Also speaking at the official inauguration ceremony on Tuesday, Roads and Urban Development Minister Farzaneh Sadegh Malvajerd described the railway project as "a technical and engineering masterpiece created by the sons of Iran and a symbol of resilience in the face of limitations."
The project consists of 12 sections, with 35% of the route passing through mountainous and difficult terrain, 45% through hilly areas and 20% across plains.
Its technical features include the country's tallest railway bridge, standing 81 meters high, 27 kilometers of tunnels and the excavation of seven kilometers of galleries, making it one of Iran's most challenging infrastructure projects.
According to project officials, the Ardabil-Mianeh railway ultimately included the construction of 62 tunnels with a combined length of 23,810 meters, four kilometers of large valley bridges, three kilometers of waterway bridges and 10 galleries extending four kilometers.
The scale of construction was extensive, requiring about 35,000 metric tons of steel materials, including structural steel, reinforcing bars and cables, as well as approximately 220,000 metric tons of cement to complete the railway.