Shalamcheh-Basra Railway: Strategic Project Connecting Iran and Iraq
webangah News Agency, International Desk: The Shalamcheh-Basra railway is more than just an infrastructure project; it represents a strategic link between the heart of Iran and Iraq and serves as a gateway to the Arab world. This rail line will facilitate travel for millions of pilgrims visiting holy sites and enhance economic and transit exchanges between the two countries. However, years of delays have cost both Iran and Iraq significant opportunities.
This 36-kilometer route not only eases pilgrim travel but also plays a key role in cargo transit and strengthening bilateral economic ties. Recent progress-including completed demining operations and commencement of bridge construction-has turned this initiative into a symbol of rail diplomacy and regional cooperation.
The Shalamcheh-Basra railway stretches approximately 34 kilometers from Khuzestan province’s Shalamcheh border crossing to Basra city, passing over the Arvand River (Shatt al-Arab). It forms part of an east-west railway corridor that connects Iraq with Central Asian countries, Central Asia proper, and East Asia.
This project holds great significance by facilitating movement between Iranian pilgrims traveling to Iraqi sacred sites (Atabat Al-aliyat) and Iraqi pilgrims visiting Mashhad’s holy shrines. Moreover, it supports part of an annual $12 billion trade volume between Iran and Iraq. Designed with an annual capacity to carry 7 million tons of freight along with millions of passengers, this railway embodies both nations’ “rail diplomacy” strategy aiming to make Iran a regional transit hub.
As of July-August 2025 (Gregorian calendar), substantial progress has been made: demining over roughly 4 kilometers within iraqi territory-with depths reaching six meters wide across fifty meters-was completed. construction began in February 2025 with funding exceeding 20 trillion Iranian rials. in February 2025, Iraq signed a contract with Spanish company IMATHIA Construcción SL for building the full 36-kilometer stretch; afterward, the Iraqi cabinet approved the plan. By June 2025 physical progress reached around 28 percent focusing on bridge work and removal of obstacles. In May 2025, Iran’s Minister of Roads traveled to Iraq to inspect developments personally while highlighting that most demining was achieved thanks to support from Baghdad.
Seyed Miad Salehi, CEO of Iranian Railways, visited the Shalamcheh border in July 2025 stating that construction is proceeding rapidly. The goal is completing bridge works before Arbaeen in October 2026-a milestone key for enabling smoother movement for millions during pilgrimage season. These advancements align with broader plans targeting $25 billion annual bilateral trade growth while reducing transit costs by up to twenty percent.
Challenges and Benefits
Main challenges include financial constraints-such as securing €100 million private investments-remaining landmines along certain segments, plus coordination issues between involved authorities on both sides. Despite these hurdles are considerable economic benefits: travel time reduction from two-to-three hours by bus down to thirty-to-forty-five minutes by train; job creation opportunities inside Iraq; enhanced regional transit potential; firm geopolitical ties improving resilience against sanctions on Iran; expanded export channels via Basra ports boosting Iranian goods shipments; plus cultural-social significance linked especially to easier pilgrim flows during Arbaeen when millions participate annually.
Conclusion
After decades-long delays,the Shalamcheh-Basra railway now nears final stages owing mainly to key breakthroughs made during early-to-mid-2025 such as completed demining work alongside initiation phases marking physical construction underway.This project will strengthen trade connectivity while standing as emblematic cooperation embracing shared neighborhood challenges.Barring unresolved financial or political difficulties,it should be fully operational by late-2026,enabling Iran’s rise as Middle East’s premier rail hub linking multiple corridors at once.
