Iran and Iraq are pushing to deepen their transport connectivity across rail, road, air, and maritime routes, with Tehran and Baghdad also working to resolve a lingering dispute over flights between their capitals. The issue topped the agenda in a Tehran meeting between Iran’s Minister of Transport and Urban Development, Farzaneh Sadegh, and Iraq’s ambassador, Yasser Abdul Zahra Al-Hajjaj.
Sadegh described the relationship between the two neighbors as rooted in shared civilization, culture, history, and religious faith—bonds, she said, that have drawn their peoples closer despite outside pressures. She pointed to the annual Arbaeen pilgrimage and the massive movement of Iranian pilgrims to Iraq, as well as the flow of Iraqi pilgrims to Mashhad, as evidence of those enduring ties. Countries with no such common ground, she argued, cannot drive a wedge between the two nations.
On transport, the minister said active border crossings, rail links, and road corridors offer significant potential for cooperation. She cited the Khosravi–Khanaqin–Baghdad rail route and the Shalamcheh–Basra railway as key joint projects that need serious follow-up. Maritime links from Khorramshahr to Basra, including pilgrim transfers by sea in some years, could also be expanded, she added.
Both sides pledged to keep consultations open and use existing capacities to strengthen economic and people-to-people ties in coming months. The two sides agreed to continue technical talks and coordinate on border procedures. Air links remain a sensitive point.
Al-Hajjaj acknowledged US pressure on Iran-Iraq air transport and said Baghdad is exploring mechanisms and initiatives to ease the crisis. He stressed the humanitarian and social stakes: millions of religious pilgrims, thousands of students, large expatriate communities, and extensive trade ties depend on reliable connectivity. Such pressures, he insisted, cannot weaken the deep-rooted relationship between the two peoples. He said flights between Iran and Iraq will resume soon.
