Baghdad – Iran View 24 | May 25, 2025
Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Farzaneh Sadeq, has arrived in Baghdad to hold high-level talks with Iraqi officials on enhancing transport cooperation and facilitating Arbaeen pilgrimage logistics.
Sadeq landed in the Iraqi capital on Saturday night, where she was welcomed by Hazem Razi Al-Hafazi, Iraq’s Deputy Minister of Transport, and Kazem Al-e-Sadeq, Iran’s Ambassador to Baghdad.
Upon arrival, the Iranian minister visited the site of the U.S. drone strike that killed General Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in January 2020, paying tribute to the two commanders widely revered in both countries.
High-Level Bilateral Talks
During her visit, Minister Sadeq is scheduled to meet with Iraq’s Prime Minister, as well as the Ministers of Transport and Interior, to discuss several key topics:
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Advancing bilateral transport ties
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Finalizing construction plans for the Shalamcheh–Basra railway
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Coordinating efforts to provide maximum facilities for Arbaeen pilgrims
Sadeq’s trip builds upon a previous high-level visit in September 2024, when she accompanied President Masoud Pezeshkian to Iraq. That visit resulted in the signing of 14 cooperation documents across various sectors, including transportation infrastructure.
The Shalamcheh-Basra railway project, a long-anticipated strategic initiative, is viewed as critical for boosting cross-border trade and easing the transit of pilgrims, particularly during the Arbaeen season.
Focus on Arbaeen Pilgrimage
A key focus of the ongoing talks is preparation for the Arbaeen pilgrimage, one of the largest annual religious gatherings in the world. Every year, millions of Shia Muslims from around the globe, including large contingents from Iran, travel to the holy city of Karbala to commemorate the 40th day after the martyrdom of Imam Hossein (PBUH).
Iranian and Iraqi officials aim to coordinate efforts to improve infrastructure and streamline the movement of pilgrims across the border during the peak period of religious travel.
