Iran's Railway Signs Private-Sector MoUs for 1,300 ha Sarakhs Logistics Hub

Islamic Republic of Iran Railways signed memoranda of understanding with private-sector partners in June for rail freight market development, announced in the presence of Minister of Roads & Urban Development Farzaneh Sadegh.

The agreements target expansion of freight capacity and logistics infrastructure through private investment. One MoU covers development of a 1,300 ha logistics center at Sarakhs, on Iran's border with Turkmenistan, part of a broader effort to enhance cross-border rail freight flows along the North–South transport corridor.

The Sarakhs facility sits at a key junction for trans-Asian rail freight, linking Iranian standard-gauge networks to Central Asian routes. The 1,300 ha site scale positions it among the larger logistics hubs planned in the region, though the MoUs did not disclose capital commitments or construction timelines.

Iran's railway has pursued private-sector freight partnerships as domestic and transit cargo volumes grow, with the country serving as a land bridge between the Persian Gulf, the Caspian region and markets to the north. The June signing follows earlier moves to open terminal operations and rolling-stock leasing to non-state operators.