Shahriar Afandizadeh made the remarks on Sunday, adding that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development Mehrdad Bazrpash and Iraqi Minister of Transport Razak Muhibis Al-Saadawi on the construction of Shalamcheh-Basra Railway during the latter’s visit to Iran.
Afandizadeh put the budget and investment rate approved by the Iraqi government for constructing this giant railway project at about $200 million, saying it shows that the Baghdad government is seriously determined to complete the construction operation of this railway project.
Given the groundbreaking of the project by Iranian and Iraqi officials, it is hoped that the two countries will witness the completion of this rail project after an 18-month period, Afandizadeh added.