Iranian delegation inspects Baghdad-Basra railway project in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq — An Iranian parliamentary and ministerial delegation visited Basra on Thursday to review the planned railway line linking Iraq and Iran. The team, made up of members of Iran's Shura Council and deputy ministers, inspected progress on the ground and discussed steps to strengthen transport links between the two countries. The project, known as Basra-Shalamcheh, will connect Basra to the Iranian border. Iraq's Ministry of Transport said on July 27 that implementation of the scheme would begin soon. The 36-kilometer line is part of a broader plan to link holy pilgrimage sites in Iraq and Iran, easing travel for visitors and expanding regional connectivity. Authorities have said the first phase is designed to carry more than three million passengers a year, with an estimated cost of $150 million. Further details on the construction timeline were not immediately available.