A photo from the construction work of the Shalamcheh-Basra railway project (IRNA)

Iranian Vice President Mohammad Mokhber pointed out on Saturday that the completion of the Shalamcheh-Basra railway project would connect Iran to the countries of the Mediterranean region, Iranian media reported.

Before heading to Khuzestan province to attend the Shalamcheh-Basra railway inauguration ceremony, Mokhber described the railway as a strategic project for Iran and Iraq, as well as the development of West Asia.

According to the Iranian Vice President, this vital project will be done within two years, in accordance with the objective of improving connections with the neighboring countries.

He pointed out that in addition to connecting the railways of both Iran and Iraq, the railway will act as complementary to the international transport routes, adding that the project has been on the agenda of the two countries governments for so long.

The 32km-long Shalamcheh-Basra railway will be inaugurated in the presence of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani in Iran's Khuzestan region.

The director general of the Iraq Rail Company highlighted that once done, the Shalamcheh-Basra Railway will be able to transport three million people.

It is noteworthy that an agreement was signed between Tehran and Baghdad on the construction of the Shalamcheh-Basra Railway, following an official visit of the Iraqi Minister of Transportation to Iran in April.