The railway linking between Iraq and Iran raises a sharp discussion in the Iraqi circles, as some see an interest for Iran at the expense of Iraq, while others prepare it as an opportunity to stimulate trade and improve relations between the two countries.
The railway line extends from the Iranian city of Shalamjah to the Iraqi city of Basra, with a length of 32 km, with two proposed tracks; Either across the Syrian border or through the Syrian city of Albukamal, and aims to transport 3 million passengers between the two countries and transport goods.
The cost of the first phase of the project is 148 million dollars, and the total cost is expected to reach 10 billion dollars.
Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shi’a Al -Sudani laid the foundation stone for the project in September 2023.
The developments of the political situation in Syria are one of the factors that greatly affect the railway linking project between Iraq and Iran, and the economist Ziad Al -Hashemi believes that this project has ended after political changes in Syria, and Iran is no longer able to implement it.
He pointed out that the ousted president, Bashar al -Assad, had signed an agreement with former Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in 2021 to conduct a bank link between Iran and Syria without taking Iraq’s opinion on this.
Al -Hashemi explained – in an interview with Al -Jazeera Net – that Iran today may be less desire to search for a skywashing towards the Mediterranean, and needs to change its strategy.
He emphasized that the railway linking between Iraq and Iran is an old strategic project dating back to more than 20 years, as Tehran sought during these years to establish a regional shot network in order to link it to the Mediterranean ports through Iraq.
Al -Hashemi explained that the first phase of the project required a laxative link with Iraq through two outlets; The first is through the Shalamjah to Basra and then link to the Iraqi Railways Network, and the second through Khazrawi Khanaqin in the central region of Iraq.
He added that the ultimate goal was to expand the Iraqi rail network to reach the port of Tartous and the port of Lattakia, and that would help Iran in exporting its goods through the Syrian ports towards European markets and North Africa.
He pointed out that Iraq could have benefited from this link as a land corridor for Iranian, Syrian and European goods, but the great economic benefit would have been achieved if Iraq took advantage of this link to establish factories near the rail network to export its goods through the Syrian ports.
Regarding the linking project through Basra, Al -Hashemi stated that its estimated cost is about 250 million dollars, and the Khatam al -Anbiya company, which is affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, will ensure that the project is completed and clean the area from mines.
He explained that the Iraqi government indicates that the goal of this link is to transport travelers, but Iranian media and Iranian economic analysts confirm that the main goal is to trade the transport of goods, which will help Iran deliver its goods to the Iraqi markets easily and quickly, reducing its cost, and increasing its competitiveness compared to commodities The other.
On January 23, Iran announced the launch of the implementation of the construction of the railway linking between Iraq and Iran, through the construction of a demobilization station at the Shalamjah crossing between the two countries, while indicating its opening during the next spring.
Al -Hashemi said that the benefit to Iraq may not be large except in the event of the construction of a water road to feed some Iranian cities, where goods and containers heading towards Iran can be emptied in the port of Al -Faw, then transported them by righteousness through the railway linking, which may be due to returns on the Iraqi railway system, stressing that The topic needs to be a study and in -depth research to evaluate its economic feasibility and its social and political effects.
What about the future of the Paw Port?
For his part, the road expert, Adnan Mazloum, stressed that there is no benefit for Iraq from the railway linking with the neighboring countries within the Silk Road, especially Iran, Kuwait, and others, explaining that this link will negatively affect the Pao port and end its project and goal.
Mazloum explained that the reason for this is that the ships are emptied in the ports near and far from the port of Al -Faw, then the goods are transported by trains, whether from Iran, Kuwait or Dubai, to Iraq or other countries.
He added that the railway linking with the countries that are located in southern and eastern Iraq does not provide them with interest, but its benefits are limited to western Iraq as it passes in its regions, unlike the PAO port that serves Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and other European countries through the northern and western regions, where the upcoming goods can From China, Japan or any other country to empty its goods in the port, then transport goods to Europe via Turkey.
Regarding the railway linking with Iran, Mazloum said that it is supposed to pass through Syria, and therefore this link will not benefit Iraq except by making it a corridor for crossing only. He explained that the highway through the development road is the only means that will have economic benefits for the country.
An important project
A spokesman for the Iraqi Ministry of Transport, Maitham Al -Safi, surprised the criticisms directed at the railway linking project between Iraq and Iran, and called on critics to make their notes instead of launching general criticism.
Al -Safi stressed during his talk to Al -Jazeera Net that the project is strategic and will contribute to increasing the Iraqi economy and diversifying it, in addition to transferring more than 5 million visitors and passengers annually between the two countries.
The Iraqi Ministry of Transport held a meeting on January 15th with the Basra-Shaja project for the transfer of passengers and visitors in the presence of the Iranian ambassador to Iraq, Muhammad Kazem Al Sadiq, to discuss developments in the implementation of the project.
Al -Safi pointed out that the project is environmentally friendly and will reduce road accidents between the two countries resulting from the use of buses in rugged roads, as well as the state’s revenues, explaining that the economic feasibility of the project lies in changing the movement of mobility between the two countries, especially during religious visits and student exchange, in addition to enhancing tourism In the southern regions of Iraq.
Al -Safi stressed that the Iraqi government is working to use modern transportation that enhance tourism and the diversity of state resources, calling on economists and analysts to present their comments on the project.
He emphasized the existence of possible negatives and errors because the project is new and several countries participate in to revive the railways between them and the neighboring countries.
Al -Safi said that the project will enhance trade and tourism exchange between Iraq and Iran, and that trains are a safe, fast and environmentally friendly means of transportation.
Iraq, represented by the General Company for Iraqi Railways, affiliated to the Ministry of Transport, signed on November 17, 2024 with Emathia Konsterokason, Spain, a contract to establish a Basra-Shaja railway.
