Iran and Turkiye have agreed to begin construction of a new 200-kilometre rail line connecting Iran’s Marand–Cheshmeh Soraya route to Turkiye’s Aralik border region.

Axar.az, citing Iran International, reports that the US$1.6 billion project, announced in Tehran by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, is expected to take three to four years to complete.

Officials say the line will form part of a strategic Asia–Europe trade corridor and revive the southern section of the historic Silk Road, enabling faster and cheaper cargo transport.

Iran hopes the project will boost regional trade as it seeks to strengthen economic ties amid continued pressure on its economy.