Overseas Media: Opinion | Israeli Airstrikes Add New Challenges to China-Iran Railway Corridor
A freight train departed from Xi'an, China and traveled 10,400 kilometers to reach a dry port near Tehran, marking the first delivery of the China-Iran railway corridor. This corridor passes through Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, aiming to reduce shipping time from 30-40 days by sea to 15 days, and may eventually connect Africa, the Persian Gulf, and Europe in the future.
The United States is considering intercepting Iranian oil tankers to curb its nuclear program, while this railway enables Iran to bypass sanctions and enhance regional influence. Since the end of 2023, attacks on Red Sea merchant ships by the Houthi armed group in Yemen have driven up maritime transport costs, making land routes more attractive. Iran takes advantage of this to consolidate its exports of oil, gas, and minerals to China, becoming an Eurasian transportation hub and reducing dependence on vulnerable maritime passages such as the Strait of Hormuz.
Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1835261223934275/
Disclaimer: The article solely represents the author's personal views.