A delegation from various Iranian government agencies has visited Herat province to assess the current status and future potential of the Khaf-Herat railway, a key regional transport link between Iran and Afghanistan.

According to the IRNA news agency, the delegation—which includes representatives from the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Governorate of South Khorasan—is focused on identifying logistical challenges, enhancing transport capacity, and facilitating increased economic cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.

Abdullah Arjaei, Iran’s Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development, said the expansion of the railway could significantly improve regional transit and provide new opportunities for the Iranian private sector to engage in Afghan infrastructure projects.

“The volume of transit through the country should increase to 40 million tonnes annually, and this is not possible without sufficient attention to neighbouring countries and the completion of east-west and north-south corridors,” Arjaei stated.

He also emphasised the strategic importance of linking Afghanistan to European markets and international waters, noting that Iran is well-positioned to facilitate such access.

The Khaf-Herat railway connects Iran’s national rail network to Herat in western Afghanistan and is considered a vital component of the East-West international rail corridor. The 2,000-kilometre route spans China, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Turkiye, and Europe, offering a major transit corridor for goods across the region.