The Director General of the Arak and Kermanshah Railway Region has announced the dispatch of the first combined transit shipment from Iraq to Afghanistan through Iran. According to him, the cargo entered Iran’s rail network through the Kermanshah freight station and is now being transported toward Afghanistan via the country’s railway lines.
Speaking to the Iranian News Agency (IRNA), Ahmad Torki stated that after completing logistical preparations and loading operations at the Kermanshah freight station, the shipment entered Iran’s national rail network and is being sent to Afghanistan through the country’s eastern rail corridors.
He described the initiative as a milestone in utilizing Iran’s transit capacities and expanding international rail transit, adding that the route could play a significant role in strengthening regional transportation cooperation.
According to Torki, the project has been implemented within the framework of the strategic policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways aimed at attracting transit cargo and developing multimodal transportation.
He added that the launch of this route will help increase the volume of trade passing through Iran’s rail network and enhance the role of rail transport in regional transit corridors.
The Director General of the Arak and Kermanshah Railway Region emphasized that, with the operation of this shipment, a west-to-east transit corridor for transporting goods to Afghanistan has become active, creating opportunities for the continuation and expansion of similar operations in the future.
Kermanshah Province shares more than 371 kilometers of border with Iraq. Along this border, there are two official border crossings and five active border markets.
According to official statistics, nearly $3 billion worth of goods are exported annually through Kermanshah’s border crossings to various countries, with a substantial portion of Iran’s exports to Iraq passing through these routes.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
