TEHRAN – Tehran is set to host an international conference on investment and financing opportunities of rail and road corridors on February 14, organized by the Ministry of Transport and Urban Development, officials said on Tuesday.

The conference will be held at the IRIB International Conference Center, according to Houshang Bazvand, head of the Construction and Development of Transportation Infrastructures Company and deputy minister of transport and urban development.

Bazvand told a press conference that three documents will be signed during the event in the presence of President Masoud Pezeshkian, including two related to the Rasht-Astara railway project and one concerning rail corridor in east of the county. 

He said foreign investors from Turkey, Russia and China will attend the conference, along with ambassadors from several countries invited by the Foreign Ministry.

Bazvand said financing for 20 rail and highway corridors is on the government’s agenda, adding nine rail corridors – including six north-south and three east-west routes – and 11 highway corridors – including six north-south and five east-west routes – were defined nationwide during the past Iranian calendar year 1403 (ended in March 2025). 

He said 55 percent of these corridors have been approved by the Supreme National Security Council and require private sector investment, prompting the organization of the conference.

Bazvand warned that delays in completing corridors such as the Astara-Chabahar rail route or the Cheshmeh Soraya-Bandar Abbas corridor could benefit regional competitors. He said Iran currently offers the shortest route for cargo transit from India to Europe, adding that without adequate infrastructure, cargo could be redirected through Iraq.

Regional competitors include Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, he said. 

Elsewhere in his remarks, the official underlined that corridor development is mandated under the Seventh National Development Plan. 

Providing an update on the Rasht-Astara railway project, Bazvand said 125 km of land along the route has been acquired and route stabilization has been completed on 40 km.

He said Iran has reached 70 percent agreement with Russia on implementing the project, with remaining differences related to legal and technical issues, including station construction.

Bazvand said 100 percent of rails used in railway projects are domestically produced by the Esfahan Mobarakeh Steel Company (EMSCO), adding that priority is given to national production.

He said the Construction and Development of Transportation Infrastructures Company currently has about 3,300 km of railway lines and 7,750 km of freeways under construction, as well as 7,800 km of highways and main roads.

Bazvand said 720 km of highways were completed last [Iranian calendar] year and forecast that 1,150 km of highways will become operational by the end of the current Iranian year in March.

AM