Tehran (IP) - Iran's Minister of Roads and Urban Development said that Tehran has always sought to strengthen relations with Ashgabat by removing barriers to cooperate, adding that a new chapter in ties between the two countries has begun after addressing concerns that had hindered the progress of programs.

Iran Press/Iran News: In an answer to IranPress question on the sidelines of the operation ceremony of Sarakhs new car bridge between Iran and Turkmenistan on Monday, about Tehran’s plans to boost relations with Ashgabat, Mohammad Eslami said, "Turkmenistan is one of the routes from the north-south corridor and part of the Silk Road that continues to China and the transportation via the Silk Road is by both train and truck.”

“President Hassan Rouhani and the Government have sought to reach a common understanding and developing cooperation between the two countries,” Iran's Minister of Roads and Urban Development added.

“The new Sarakhs Bridge was built based on previous agreements with Turkmenistan, and we were able to complete the bridge successfully despite the difficulties,” he underscored.

Eslami continued, “And this is in line with the goal of 1,000 daily traffic between the two countries, which Iranian and Turkmen officials have been seeking.”

Referring to COVID-19 related concerns, the Iranian official noted that “It was decided that based on the protocols of the World Health Organization and the National Task Force for Fighting Coronavirus, we created disinfection tunnels in all the entrances of the country, which are for both cars and trains.”

He added that drivers must also have  COVID-19 negative tests.

Eslami concluded that trade between the two countries will resume next week.

Official operation ceremony of Sarakhs-Sarakhs new car bridge between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Turkmenistan was held on Monday with the presence of the senior officials of the two countries, including Iran's Minister of Roads and Urban Development and Minister of Construction and Architecture of Turkmenistan.

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