Kuwaiti Cabinet Briefed on Railway Connection Project with Saudi Arabia, Stresses its Importance

The cabinet stressed the importance of the railway connection project between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia
The cabinet stressed the importance of the railway connection project between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia
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Kuwaiti Cabinet Briefed on Railway Connection Project with Saudi Arabia, Stresses its Importance

The cabinet stressed the importance of the railway connection project between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia
The cabinet stressed the importance of the railway connection project between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia

The Kuwaiti cabinet on Tuesday was briefed by the Minister of Public Works and the Minister of State for Municipal Affairs, Noura Al-Mashaan, on the railway connection project between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Mashaan presented the project during the cabinet’s weekly meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah at the Bayan Palace, Kuwait’s official news agency, KUNA, said.

The cabinet stressed the importance of the project, which will contribute to organizing and activating sustainable railway connectivity and enhance trade exchange and economic growth between the two countries.

Meanwhile, Kuwaiti media quoted a government source as saying that Saudi Arabia's Transport and Logistics Minister Saleh al-Jasser will visit Kuwait this week to discuss the rail link project, its implementation stages and other details.

The Saudi Arabia-Kuwait 650km-long railway network will shorten travel time between the two countries to three hours.

This project is separate from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) rail link project.

The route of the railway will start from Al Shaddadiya in Kuwait, stretching all the way to Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia. The project is expected to be completed in four years.

On November 16, the Kuwaiti Ministry of Public Works entered into an agreement with the SYSRTA alliance to conduct a comprehensive study on the financial, economic, and technical feasibility of the railway connection between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

The Kuwaiti Public Works Ministry said its undersecretary Eid Al-Rashidi signed with Vice President of the Shared Services at Saudi Railway Company Salah Alomair an agreement aimed at organizing and activating sustainable rail linkage between the two countries in order to achieve safe and effective rail transport, KUNA said.



Iranian Official to Asharq Al-Awsat: Committed to Peace and Stability with Saudi Arabia

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi (Reuters)
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi (Reuters)
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Iranian Official to Asharq Al-Awsat: Committed to Peace and Stability with Saudi Arabia

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi (Reuters)
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi (Reuters)

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi reaffirmed Iran and Saudi Arabia’s mutual determination to establish lasting peace and stability in the region.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat during his visit to Riyadh, Ravanchi emphasized that achieving this goal requires sustained bilateral and regional cooperation to address current threats and build a foundation for prosperity and security.
During his meetings with the Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Eng. Waleed ElKhereiji, Ravanchi discussed strengthening bilateral relations in political, economic, and consular fields, and explored key regional and international issues.
He described Saudi-Iranian efforts as a “successful model of bilateral and multilateral cooperation,” aimed at fostering peace, security, and development on both regional and international levels. Ravanchi underscored the importance of historical ties and the principle of good neighborliness as the basis for advancing this relationship.
Following the second meeting of the Saudi-Chinese-Iranian trilateral committee in Riyadh, both Saudi Arabia and Iran reiterated their full commitment to implementing the Beijing Agreement, according to a statement by the Saudi foreign ministry. The accord, mediated by China, aims to restore diplomatic ties and promote mutual respect for sovereignty and security in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and international law.
China praised the progress achieved since the agreement’s signing, including the reopening of embassies and increased bilateral engagement. It pledged to continue supporting Saudi-Iranian efforts to deepen their cooperation and maintain regional stability.
Ravanchi, who previously served as Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations and was a member of the Iranian nuclear negotiating team with the P5+1, described the atmosphere of the meetings as “cordial and transparent.” He added that the three nations exchanged views on topics of mutual interest and stressed the importance of continuing this “positive and forward-looking process.” He also revealed “constructive and friendly” meetings held by the Iranian delegation with their Saudi hosts and Chinese counterparts, during which they discussed enhancing bilateral and trilateral cooperation and reviewed developments in relations over the past year.
One significant development has been the improvement in consular services. Over 87,000 Iranian pilgrims performed Hajj, and more than 52,000 completed Umrah in the past year, demonstrating enhanced coordination. Additionally, the first meeting of the Saudi-Iranian Joint Media Committee and the signing of an MoU between Saudi Arabia’s Prince Saud Al-Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies and Iran’s Institute for Political and International Studies further strengthened institutional ties.
The trilateral meeting also tackled pressing regional challenges, particularly the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The participants condemned Israel’s aggression in Palestine, Lebanon, and Iran, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the continuation of humanitarian aid to affected regions. They warned that ongoing violence poses significant risks to regional and global security, including threats to maritime safety.
On Yemen, the parties reiterated their support for a comprehensive political solution under United Nations auspices. They emphasized the importance of dialogue and diplomacy to achieve lasting peace in the war-torn country.
Saudi-Iranian relations have undergone a remarkable transformation since the signing of the Beijing Agreement. The reopening of embassies, including Iran’s embassy in Riyadh in June after a seven-year hiatus, marked a turning point in their ties.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs Alireza Bigdeli described the day as a “historic milestone” in Saudi-Iranian relations. He expressed confidence that the renewed relationship would reach its peak, emphasizing that the restoration of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia opens a new chapter in bilateral and regional relations, aimed at greater cooperation and stability.