Iran's Rail Diplomacy Gains Momentum with Regional Assemblies and Memorandums

Strategic Insights -

The 36th Regional Assembly of Middle East Railways (UIC RAME) brought together senior representatives from Turkey, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, and Syria, alongside officials from the International Union of Railways (UIC), with delegates from Jordan, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia's public transport authority joining virtually. Iran's deputy transport minister and head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways, Jabar Ali Zakari, highlighted Iran's dynamic approach to regional rail diplomacy, citing recent memorandums with Central Asian states, Russia, and China that have led to continuous growth in international freight and transit volumes through Iran in 2025. The assembly emphasized the importance of rail and multimodal transit, with Zakari stating that Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates offer major opportunities for cooperation.

Key Takeaways:

  • Iran's deputy transport minister, Jabar Ali Zakari, emphasized the importance of regional rail diplomacy, highlighting recent memorandums with Central Asian states, Russia, and China.
  • Zakari stated that efforts to complete rail infrastructure, link networks, reduce cargo transit times, and expand passenger services with neighboring states, especially Turkey, Afghanistan, and Iraq, are accelerating.
  • The RAME vice chair emphasized expanding rail and multimodal transit as a key priority for Iran Railways, with Gulf countries offering major opportunities for cooperation.
  • Zakari described reconnecting rail links between Iran and Saudi Arabia as a "historic opportunity" to boost economic growth and religious tourism across Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia.
  • Iran and Saudi Arabia are set to launch new joint working groups to complete border projects, align operational standards, strengthen rail-port connections in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, and develop data-sharing systems.
  • Iran, Turkey, and Afghanistan signed a memorandum of understanding to deepen cooperation in the rail sector, focusing on boos efficiency, streamlining cross-border procedures, and expanding capacity.
  • The five-year MOU aims to cover human resource development, maintenance, infrastructure upgrades, digitalization, capacity allocation, traffic management, and mutual technical visits by senior managers and staff.

Statistics:

  • 36th Regional Assembly of Middle East Railways (UIC RAME) attendance included senior representatives from Turkey, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, and Syria, alongside officials from the International Union of Railways (UIC).
  • Delegates from Jordan, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia's public transport authority joined the meeting virtually.
  • Zakari stated that international freight and transit volumes through Iran have grown continuously in 2025 due to recent memorandums with Central Asian states, Russia, and China.
  • Zakari noted that Gulf countries, such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, offer major opportunities for cooperation in rail and multimodal transit.

Sources:

  • Transport and Urban Development Ministry
  • International Union of Railways (UIC)
  • Jabar Ali Zakari, Iran's deputy transport minister and head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways
  • Turkish State Railways (TCDD) director-general Veysi Kurt
  • Mohammad Ishaq Sahebzada, head of Afghanistan's Railway Authority
  • TehranTimes.