Iran is actively pursuing a project to establish a railway connection to China that would traverse Afghan territory.
According to reports, Iranian officials have outlined a plan that could significantly shorten transportation routes for goods moving between China and Iran, facilitating direct train services to Europe.
The Bakhtar News Agency, citing IRNA, indicates that this railway route could reduce the cargo transport distance from China to Iran by up to 50%, thereby activating the southern branch of the East–West corridor.
Since the beginning of the current year, over 63 trains from China destined for Iran and the European Union have entered the country, a remarkable increase compared to just seven trains during the previous year.
Iranian officials attribute this surge in train traffic to the signing of multilateral agreements aimed at establishing unified tariffs among transit countries.
Following agreements among six countries along the China–Europe route, the number of trains using this corridor is projected to rise to approximately 300 per year.
Shahriar Naqizadeh, Director General of Foreign Trade at Iran Railways, stated that this railway initiative aims to strengthen trade and transportation ties between Iran and China.
Experts believe that the railway, passing through Afghanistan, will not only enhance trade relations among Afghanistan, Iran, and China but will also provide significant economic benefits to Kabul through transit revenues and commercial exchanges.
Additionally, these developments align with the Islamic Emirate’s focus on economic policies and regional integration, helping to position Afghanistan as a critical hub for regional and trans-regional connectivity.
