Iran advances Kermanshah–Khosravi railway to boost east–west trade corridor with Iraq

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Iran’s Presidential Assistant for Executive Affairs, Mohammad Jafar Ghaem Panah, announced Tuesday that completing the Kermanshah–Khosravi railway to the Iraqi border aims to establish an active international corridor linking East and West. According to the Iranian state news agency Islamic Republic News Agency, the 263-kilometer railway project is designed to strengthen regional connectivity and enhance trade flows between the two neighboring countries. Ghaem Panah stated that Iraq is simultaneously implementing a railway line from Baghdad to Khanaqin, extending to the Khosravi border crossing. The parallel development is expected to connect the rail networks of both countries and facilitate cross-border transportation. He explained that the railway would significantly expand freight capacity, enabling goods to move more efficiently from northwestern Iran and neighboring countries into Iraq, and vice versa. The project is also expected to support economic growth in Iran’s western Kermanshah province. The Iranian official described the railway as one of the most important infrastructure projects in western Iran, noting that it was originally approved during a high-level provincial visit in 2012. Upon completion, the line is expected to enhance transportation infrastructure, strengthen logistical links between Iran and Iraq, and contribute to the creation of a regional trade corridor connecting markets across Asia and the Middle East.