Latest news with #FarzanehSadegh
Express Tribune
20 hours ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Pakistan, Iran ink MoU on boosting ties
On the concluding day of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) summit held in Tehran, a MoU was signed between Pakistan and Iran to enhance bilateral cooperation in the field of communications. The signing ceremony was attended by Iran's Minister for Roads and Urban Development Farzaneh Sadegh, and Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan who also led the Pakistani delegation in this ECO summit, said a statement received here on Tuesday. A formal meeting was held between the two ministers, accompanied by their respective delegations in which both sides agreed to further strengthen the longstanding relations between the two neighboring countries. Aleem Khan highlighted the deep-rooted religious, cultural and historical ties between Pakistan and Iran, stating that the shared culture, especially from Balochistan to Iran, reflects strong commonalities in daily life and traditions. He welcomed the holding of the ECO summit in Tehran, expressing optimism that the platform would yield positive outcomes for the region. Iranian Minister Farzaneh Sadegh expressed readiness for all possible cooperation in Pakistan's Communications sector and affirmed Iran's commitment to advancing bilateral projects.
Shafaq News
25-05-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
Iranian Minister in Baghdad for key rail link
Shafaq News/ Iran's Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Farzaneh Sadegh, arrived in Iraq on Sunday to push forward key transport and infrastructure projects, with the Shalamcheh-Basra railway topping the agenda. Welcomed by Iraq's Deputy Transport Minister Hazem Radi and Iranian Ambassador to Iraq, Mohammad Kazem Al-e Sadegh, Sadegh is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, Transport Minister Razzaq Muhaibis al-Saadawi, and Interior Minister Abdul Amir al-Shammari. Talks will reportedly center on the 32-kilometer rail link connecting religious hubs in both countries, intended to serve more than 3 million pilgrims annually in its initial phase. Valued at $150 million, the project is seen as a catalyst for religious tourism and trade. Key challenges include clearing 16 kilometers of mine-contaminated land, constructing an 880-meter movable bridge over the Arvand River (Shatt al-Arab), and upgrading the Shalamcheh border crossing. Officials are also expected to finalize logistics for the upcoming Arbaeen pilgrimage, one of the world's largest religious gatherings. Discussions will focus on streamlining border controls and expanding facilities to accommodate the surge in Iranian pilgrims.
Mint
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Iran Continues to Battle Port Fire as Death Toll Rises
(Bloomberg) -- Iranian authorities on Sunday were still battling to control fire and smoke unleashed more than 24 hours earlier by an explosion at a key commercial port on the Strait of Hormuz that state media said left at least 25 people dead and more than 800 injured. Saturday's blast rocked the Shahid Rajaee port in the city of Bandar Abbas, in the southern Hormozgan Province, sending shockwaves across nearby cities. Cargo operations have been partially resumed after activities were halted and the area was evacuated in the initial aftermath, according to Iran's roads minister, Farzaneh Sadegh, who flew to the site to oversee investigations into the cause of the incident. A spokesman for the country's crisis management organization didn't rule out sabotage, the semi-official Iranian Labour News Agency said, although he suggested the explosion was likely caused by negligence, citing previous warnings about poor inspections and material maintenance at the port. The disaster recalled memories of a deadly blast five years ago in the Port of Beirut that was triggered by a store of highly flammable ammonium nitrate. The Iranian port's customs office indicated Saturday's incident may have been sparked by dangerous chemicals stored in the area, although it didn't specify the materials or what might have ignited them. Initial reports blamed poor safety standards. The Associated Press cited a possible link to a recent shipment of rocket fuel from China intended to replenish Iran's missile stocks, which have been depleted by the country's attacks on Israel in the course of its war with Hamas in Gaza. 'The public can rest assured that whatever the cause of the incident, we will announce it,' Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni said on state television. 'We will take action against those responsible and anyone who was negligent.' Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has ordered an official investigation, which authorities said could take some time. Local media reported a series of smaller explosions overnight that spread the fire to multiple cargo containers at the port. Unverified mobile footage appearing to show the initial explosion displayed intense flames and billowing orange smoke, originally concentrated at a single point, followed by a massive blast. Additional video captured the shockwaves sweeping across the area. The incident occurred as Iranian and US officials gathered in Muscat, south of the Gulf of Oman, on Saturday to negotiate a new deal on the Islamic Republic's nuclear program. Both sides reported progress and agreed to meet again soon in Europe, although readouts indicated that substantial work remains to be done. Shahid Rajaee, one of the largest commercial ports in the region, is a vital hub for Iran's trade, handling more than half of the country's exports and imports that are shipped by sea, according to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency. It also holds strategic importance, sitting on the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for about 26% of global oil trade. It's connected to Iran's national rail and road networks, linking maritime trade to the country's industrial centers and serving as a transit route for exports through Iran's borders. --With assistance from Valentine Baldassari. More stories like this are available on First Published: 28 Apr 2025, 01:31 PM IST
Japan Times
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Iran still battling port fire as death toll rises
Iranian authorities were still working on Sunday to control fire and smoke unleashed by Saturday's explosion at a key commercial port in the country's south that state media said left 40 people dead and more than 1,200 injured. Some cargo operations resumed after activities were halted and the area was evacuated in the initial aftermath, according to Iran's roads minister, Farzaneh Sadegh, who flew to the site in the city of Bandar Abbas to oversee investigations into the cause of the incident. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also traveled to the city, in the southern Hormozgan Province, on Sunday. The government has declared Monday a national day of mourning. Saturday's blast ripped through the Shahid Rajaee port, sending shock waves across nearby towns and cities. The disaster recalled memories of a deadly combustion five years ago in the Port of Beirut that was triggered by a store of highly flammable ammonium nitrate. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the dispatch of emergency personnel to help in fighting the fire, following a request from Iran, according to Tass, which cited the Russian Embassy in Tehran. Russia's emergencies ministry said it would send two Beriev Be-200Chs aircraft and an Ilyushin Il-76 plane, the ministry said in an updated Telegram statement on Sunday. Hossein Sajedinia, head of the country's crisis management organization, told state TV that the fire was expected to be extinguished by nighttime, as crews from several provinces were mobilized to bring it under control. A spokesman for Iran's crisis management organization didn't rule out sabotage, the semi-official Iranian Labour News Agency said, although he suggested the explosion was likely caused by negligence, citing previous warnings about poor inspections and material maintenance at the port. The Iranian port's customs office indicated the incident may have been sparked by dangerous chemicals stored in the area, although it didn't specify the materials or what might have ignited them. Initial reports blamed poor safety standards. The Associated Press cited a possible link to a recent shipment of rocket fuel from China intended to replenish Iran's missile stocks, which have been depleted by the country's attacks on Israel in the course of its war with Hamas in Gaza. Iran's defense ministry appeared to deny that report, with a spokesman stating on national television on Sunday that no cargo with military applications had been present within the fire zone. "The public can rest assured that, whatever the cause of the incident, we will announce it,' Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni said on state television. "We will take action against those responsible and anyone who was negligent.' Local media reported a series of smaller explosions overnight that spread the fire to multiple cargo containers at the port. The semi-official Tasnim news agency reported a fresh flare-up on Sunday following a new explosion at the containers, with strong winds and intense heat complicating the situation. Unverified mobile footage appearing to show the initial explosion displayed intense flames and billowing orange smoke, originally concentrated at a single point, followed by a massive blast. Additional video captured the shock waves sweeping across the area. The incident occurred as Iranian and U.S. officials gathered in Muscat, south of the Gulf of Oman, on Saturday to negotiate a new deal on the Islamic Republic's nuclear program. Both sides reported progress and agreed to meet again soon in Europe, although readouts indicated that substantial work remains to be done. Shahid Rajaee, one of the largest commercial ports in the region, is a vital hub for Iran's trade, handling more than half of the country's exports and imports that are shipped by sea, according to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency. It also holds strategic importance, sitting on the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for about 26% of global oil trade. It's connected to Iran's national rail and road networks, linking maritime trade to the country's industrial centers and serving as a transit route for exports through Iran's borders.
