TEHRAN – Senior rail officials from Iran and Turkmenistan met at the Sarakhs international border station to discuss expansion of bilateral cooperation and development of regional rail corridors.

The meeting brought together the deputy head of commercial and operations affairs at Islamic Republic of Iran Railways and Turkmenistan’s deputy transport minister, focusing on improving cross-border connectivity and strengthening Iran’s role in international rail transit routes.

The two sides reviewed measures to streamline operational procedures at the Sarakhs station, emphasizing closer coordination to facilitate wagon movements, reduce border dwell times and enhance rail transport efficiency.

Iranian officials said expanding rail connectivity would not only increase trade volumes but also reinforce the country’s geoeconomic position along key regional transit corridors.

Agreements reached during the talks will be finalized in coordination with relevant authorities in Tehran before being submitted for approval and signature by Turkmen officials, the Iranian side said.

Discussions also covered raising freight capacity, upgrading station infrastructure and improving coordination in technical and logistics services.

Both parties underscored the importance of continuing joint meetings to implement agreements and address operational challenges.

The Sarakhs talks form part of Iran’s broader strategy to deepen rail cooperation with neighboring countries and activate north–south and east–west transit routes, aimed at strengthening its position as a land bridge linking Central Asia to open waters.

In last May, Iran and Turkmenistan signed a commercial roadmap aimed at boosting bilateral trade to $3.0 billion.

The agreement was signed in Tehran by Iran’s Minister of Transport and Urban Development Farzaneh Sadegh and Turkmenistan’s Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov following the 18th session of the Iran-Turkmenistan Joint Economic Committee. 

Sadegh said the recent committee meeting marked a new chapter in bilateral cooperation, stressing that intensive talks had yielded fresh approaches and agreements to expand trade. “The trade roadmap is expected to be finalized before the Iranian president’s upcoming visit to Turkmenistan,” she added.

The minister highlighted the strategic location of both countries within the North–South and East–West corridors, describing them as critical to regional connectivity. She noted that Iran and Turkmenistan had agreed to aim for 20 million tons in transit volumes, with a 16-million-ton target set for 2028.

Other key understandings included plans to establish joint free trade zones in Sarakhs-Sarakhs and Lotfabad-Artiq, strengthen border markets—especially in Incheh Borun—and prepare a bilateral gas contract. The roadmap also calls for constructing the Qamdaq–Atrak road toward the Iranian border and building a gas pipeline to Turkmenistan.

Agreements were also reached on developing a third electricity transmission line between Mary and Sarakhs and launching feasibility studies for a fourth. “If both sides follow through, the 18th committee will open up new avenues for economic and cultural cooperation,” Sadegh said.

Turkmenistan’s Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov thanked Iranian officials for their hospitality, stating that bilateral relations are at a high level. “The close dialogue between the two presidents is grounded in mutual trust, which plays a pivotal role in advancing ties,” he said.

Meredov emphasized the importance of the Joint Economic Committee as a coordination mechanism for implementing bilateral agreements across sectors such as oil, gas, transport, trade, telecommunications, agriculture, and environment. He also expressed readiness to expand cooperation in health, sports, tourism, and science.

Meredov said the Turkmen delegation had held productive meetings with Iranian officials and that President Pezeshkian had shared his vision for future cooperation during their encounter. “We view Iran’s proposals seriously and are committed to joint efforts,” he added.

Iran plans to increase its annual rail freight transit with Turkmenistan to four million tons, up from 1.6 million tons last year, according to the head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways (RAI).

Speaking on the sidelines of the joint economic commission, RAI Head Jabar Ali Zakeri said rail transit is currently at its best level, and Iran aims to resolve logistical issues at Sarakhs, Lotfabad, and Incheh Borun border points to facilitate growth.

He said talks had addressed problems such as the movement of Iranian wagons on Turkmen railways and activation of the Lotfabad border terminal. The terminal will now offer special freight discounts, expected to add 170,000 to 200,000 tons of transit freight—a first for the crossing.

Iran is also working on resolving customs hurdles and expanding infrastructure at the Sarakhs and Incheh Borun terminals. “We aim to increase bogie exchange capacity at Sarakhs from 400 to 600 wagons per day,” Zakeri said.

The two countries also discussed launching a new Mashhad–Mary passenger train route.

Meanwhile, during a meeting on May 20, with Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad emphasized deepening bilateral cooperation in the oil and gas sector and discussed avenues to broaden energy collaboration.

The minister highlighted the ongoing session of the Iran-Turkmenistan Joint Economic Committee and its diverse agenda. He said the committee could significantly boost trade exchanges between the two countries.

Paknejad emphasized that constructive engagement with neighboring countries—particularly Turkmenistan, a “friendly and brotherly nation”—has always been a priority in Iran’s foreign policy. He added that the current administration is firmly committed to expanding energy ties with Turkmenistan.

He pointed to the swift implementation of the gas swap deal through Iran that delivers Turkmen gas to Turkey, expressing hope that other energy-related agreements—such as direct gas imports from Turkmenistan—would advance at a similar pace.

Turkmenistan’s Foreign Minister and Head of Cabinet, Rashid Meredov, noted that Iran and Turkmenistan have historically maintained strong ties. In recent years, he said, relations have entered a new phase, with both sides eager to expand cooperation across various sectors.

Meredov identified three key areas of cooperation with Iran: gas exports to Iran, joint development of compressor stations and pipelines, and gas swaps to third countries via Iranian territory. He said Turkmenistan currently produces over 80 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually, a substantial portion of which could be exported in collaboration with Iran.

He described the swift launch of the Turkmenistan-Iran-Turkey gas swap as a testament to the strong partnership between the two nations and stated, “Based on this positive experience, we believe there is significant potential to further expand energy cooperation. We also have ambitious plans for increasing gas exports to Iran.”

On May 13, the head of the Iran-Turkmenistan Joint Chamber of Commerce said the two countries are aiming to increase bilateral trade by 30 percent, following the first-ever exhibition of Turkmenistan’s export capabilities in Iran — an event driven entirely by private sector investment.

Ramazan Bahrami, who also heads the Industry, Mining and Trade House of Golestan Province, described the three-day event held in Gorgan from May 4 to 6 as a strategic milestone in Iran-Turkmenistan commercial relations and a tangible step toward strengthening regional economic diplomacy.

Held at the Gorgan International Exhibition Center, the event featured 53 private companies and 12 government institutions from Turkmenistan, and attracted significant interest from Iranian industrialists and businesspeople.

“This was the first time since Turkmenistan’s independence that such an exhibition took place in Iran, and Golestan Province had the honor of hosting it,” Bahrami said. “The exhibition was the result of consensus between the private sector and state institutions, and the outcome exceeded expectations.”

He said the expo aimed to expand trade exchanges and showcase Turkmenistan’s industrial and export capacities to the Iranian market. The idea for reciprocal trade exhibitions was first approved at the 17th Iran-Turkmenistan Joint Economic Committee meeting, and the Iran-Turkmenistan Joint Chamber was tasked with its implementation.

Bahrami emphasized that the participation of both countries’ private sectors in expert panels and face-to-face negotiations provided fertile ground for launching new partnerships. Preliminary agreements were reached in areas including petrochemicals, petroleum products, construction materials, food industries, textiles, and logistics, which are expected to boost bilateral trade once finalized.

According to Bahrami, trade between the two countries reached nearly $600 million last year. With the momentum created by this exhibition and new commercial interactions, Iran and Turkmenistan are now targeting a minimum 30 percent increase in that figure. “Some of this growth will materialize in the coming months, and the rest will be reflected in next year’s export statistics,” he said.

Explaining the choice of Golestan as the host province, Bahrami pointed to strategic ethnic, cultural, and geographical ties. “Over one million ethnic Turkmens live in Golestan and North Khorasan, creating a natural platform for expanding economic, cultural, and social relations with Turkmenistan.”

He noted that the event was funded entirely by the private sector, with the government offering oversight, support, and facilitation. “This model proves that meaningful outcomes can be achieved when the private sector is empowered.”

Bahrami added that the exhibition attracted delegations from other Central Asian countries, turning it into a broader regional platform rather than just a bilateral affair.

On May 2, the deputy head of Iran's Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) called for the removal of key structural barriers—particularly in banking, transport, logistics, and visa issuance—to unlock the trade potential between Iran and Turkmenistan.

Speaking at a joint business forum held during Iran Expo 2025, Peyman Bagheri highlighted the two countries’ shared strengths in energy, mining, agriculture, and tourism but said current trade levels fail to reflect those capacities. “Despite deep-rooted historical, cultural, and economic ties, trade volumes remain below potential and need a more proactive approach,” he said.

Bagheri urged joint chambers of commerce and trade associations to play a more dynamic role in connecting supply and demand and facilitating cross-border business.

He described Iran Expo 2025 as a “golden opportunity” to showcase Iran’s economic capabilities, noting the participation of more than 3,000 businesspeople from 110 countries. “The Iran Chamber has mobilized all its resources to make the most of this platform,” he added.

Ramezan Bahrami, head of the Iran–Turkmenistan Joint Chamber of Commerce, said 2024 had been a successful year for bilateral trade and expressed hope that 2025 would usher in a new era of cooperation.

He praised the role of both presidents in building trust between business communities, highlighting the creation of a joint council and the need to respect each other’s regulations. Bahrami also announced the launch of a “Turkmen Trade Center” in Iran, aimed at helping Turkmen consumers access Iranian goods at competitive prices.

He further announced plans for the first provincial Iran–Turkmenistan exhibition in Gorgan, describing it as part of broader efforts to expand economic diplomacy.

Bahrami urged joint chambers to identify market-specific opportunities and host technical meetings to connect Iranian tech firms with real demand in neighboring countries.

EF/MA