KABUL: Iran has identified the construction of the Herat–Mazar-e-Sharif railway as its most important project in Afghanistan for the current year, according to Iranian diplomatic officials on Monday.
The Iranian Embassy in Kabul said in a statement that the project is a key focus for 2026, as Tehran seeks to expand infrastructure and trade links with Afghanistan.
As part of these efforts, Alireza Bigdeli, Iran’s ambassador to Afghanistan, has held meetings with the country’s consuls in Herat and Balkh provinces to discuss this year’s priorities.
The ambassador also recently visited the Dogharoon border crossing, which connects to the Islam Qala crossing, to review plans to improve border infrastructure and facilitate trade.
According to the embassy, Bigdeli inspected proposed projects to open new crossings, improve transit routes, and remove bottlenecks to speed up truck movement at the border.
The announcement comes a day after the ambassador said that 100,000 tons of goods had been transported between Iran and Afghanistan by rail in recent weeks, expressing optimism for strong growth in bilateral trade this year.
Herat–Mazar Rail Line tops Iran’s 2026 plans in Afghanistan
