Iraq’s Ministry of Transportation refuted claims of ceding land to Iran for a railway link, announcing the reclamation of 500 meters of its lands from the Iranian side.
In a statement, the ministry said: “Iraq did not cede any Iraqi lands in favor of the Iranian side in order to extend the railway line, or to establish a navigational bridge on the Shatt al-Arab.”
It added: “The alleged claims surrounding the project is mere media misinformation... and fueled by parties attempting to impede our strategic ministry projects.”
The ministry stressed that the project was one of its strategic endeavors, executed by the General Company for Iraqi Railways and included in the 2023 federal budget, with a dedicated budget allocation.
It explained that the MOU, which was signed by the Iraqi and Iranian transportation ministries, explicitly mandates Iran to bear the financial costs of conflicts to complete the project.
The ministry said that in line with the agreement, “the Iranian side undertakes the construction of the maritime bridge on the Shatt al-Arab and the removal of mines along a length of 16 kilometers within the project.”
“The fourth paragraph clearly states that the Iranian side would cover the financial expenses incurred by acquisitions and other matters, with no mention of ceding or granting Iraqi land to Iran,” the statement noted.
The Iraqi Ministry of Transportation emphasized that Iraq’s interests and people were its utmost priority, adding that it did not have the authority to cede Iraqi land to another country.
“All lands of the project, starting from the Iranian border, are Iraqi territory. Moreover, the ministry proudly announces reclaiming 500 meters of Iraqi land that was previously held by the Iranian side,” the statement read.
The issue of the land and sea borders between Iraq and Iran dates back to 1975, when former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein signed the Algiers Agreement with the Shah of Iran, according to which Iraq ceded half of the Shatt al-Arab to Iran in return for Tehran stopping support for the Kurdish movement.
While the Kurdish movement, led by Mustafa Barzani, collapsed immediately after the signing of the deal, four years later, Saddam Hussein announced his withdrawal from the agreement, and his endeavor to restore the Shatt al-Arab after launching a war between Iraq and Iran that lasted 8 years.
