MOT denies signing a railway connection agreement with Iran

INA – BAGHDAD 
 
Minister of Transport Nasser Al-Shibli denied on Wednesday, the signing of an agreement to link railways with Iran, while he announced the signing of an agreement with an Italian company to develop special designs starting from the port of Faw to the Iraqi-Turkish border.
 
“Meeting minutes were signed with the Iranian side regarding the railway connection, which is not an agreement," said Al-Shibli in a statement to Al-Iraqiya News, followed by the Iraqi News Agency (INA).
 
He added, "We have given a pledge to the Iraqis that any railway connection will not be possible to complete until after the completion of Faw port, as well as the completion of the railways and its infrastructure to be ready to receive the connection with any country,”
 
At the same time, Al-Shibli announced, "signing a contract with an Italian company to develop new designs starting from the port of Faw, then Basra and Baghdad, and reaching the border with Turkey,"