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MEOG NEWS IN BRIEF MEOG

Rezaei-Kouchi underlined the importance railway network can have a significant positive US seizes websites of
of expanding the country’s national railway impact on the cost of goods, reducing the time
network, saying: “Investment in railways can of arrival of goods to the destination, as well Iranian fuel traders
be of great benefit to the country in saving fuel as greater reliability and security,” he stressed.
consumption and reducing pollution.” The track-laying operations of Chabahar- The Justice Department of the US has
Referring to the country’s Sixth Five-Year Zahedan railroad was started in early July in a announced the seizure of three websites
National Development Plan and the goals ceremony attended by Iranian Transport and used by three Irianian companies Mobin
depicted in this plan for the expansion of Urban Development Minister Mohammad International, Sohar Fuel, and Oman Fuel
railways, the official added: “Achieving a Eslami and Deputy Transport Minister who allegedly arranged a large volume of
30-percent freight transportation capacity and Kheirollah Khademi. fuel shipment to Venezuela for the Islamic
a 20-percent share of passenger traffic through As previously reported, the project which is Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
railways is one of the goals that Islamic aimed to connect Chabahar to Zahedan (the The US filed a complaint in July seeking
Republic of Iran Railways (RAI) is pursuing.” capital city of southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan to forfeit all petroleum product aboard oil
He further mentioned the International Province) is planned to be completed by tankers Bella, Bering, Pandi and Luna and
North-South Transport Corridor and said the end of the Iranian calendar year of 1400 confiscated the cargo from all four vessels,
that the India-Russia section of this route (March 2022). totalling approximately 1.116m barrels of
will be completed through Iran, and the Connecting the ports to the railway petroleum in August.
railway network has a major share in this network is an issue seriously emphasized and According to the Justice Department,
section which can play an effective role for the followed up by Iran over the recent years, as the forfeiture complaint alleged how Iranian
country’s economy. the country is strongly pursuing the objective businessman Mohammad Madanipour used
The official emphasized the necessity of of boosting exports and transit via its ports. a web of front companies, including Mobin
joining the country’s production centers Chabahar Port in southeast Iran is the International, to perpetrate the scheme.
through railways and added: “There are most prioritized one for railway connection Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh
many production centers in the country that as the port’s exemption from the new round said this month that seized fuel belonged to
unfortunately are not connected to the railway of the U.S. sanctions on the country is an Venezuela, not Iran.
network and their cargoes are carried through opportunity for the development of export, SPLASH247
road.” transit, and also transshipment.
“Connection of production centers to the TEHRAN TIMES

P18 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 35 02•September•2020