Iran and Turkey have agreed to commence construction on a significant new rail link, a strategic infrastructure project designed to create a vital trade gateway between Asia and Europe. The agreement, announced by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, marks a major step in enhancing Eurasian connectivity.
The planned railway, known in Iran as the Marand-Cheshmeh Soraya transit line, will stretch approximately 200 kilometers from Iran's East Azerbaijan province to the Aralik border region with Turkey . Iranian authorities estimate the project will cost around $1.6 billion and take three to four years to complete . This new link is poised to close a critical gap in a second rail corridor between China and Europe, transforming the southern wing of the historic Silk Road into a continuous, modern rail network .
At a recent press conference, Foreign Ministers Araghchi and his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, emphasized the importance of removing barriers to trade and investment between their countries . The new rail link is a cornerstone of this effort. Iranian Transportation Minister Farzaneh Sadegh has stated that the corridor will enable the "fast, low-cost transport of cargo with minimal stops," ensuring a continuous network from China to Europe . This project is a key part of Iran's fixed policy to expand its east-west transit infrastructure, aligning with China's multi-trillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) .
For Iran, this project is a strategic move to secure a larger share of regional cargo transit revenues and bolster its economy against international sanctions . By deepening infrastructure ties with Turkey and, by extension, to European markets, Iran is strengthening its role as a central hub in Eurasian trade. The development accelerates Beijing's BRI ambitions while simultaneously enhancing Tehran's economic resilience and geopolitical leverage . Iranian and Turkish railway authorities have been holding meetings since at least April of this year to discuss the project's potential and its connection to the railway network in Kars, northeastern Turkey .