Iran has since clarified that it is not the case and India could join the project at a later stage. IRCON had prepared engineering studies estimating that the 800 km long railway project would need an outlay of $1.6 billion. Also read | No response from Iran on Chabahar railway line since December: MEAThings moved forward after 2015 when sanctions on Iran eased with the signing of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or the Iran nuclear deal. Another milestone was the signing of the Trilateral Agreement on Establishment of International Transport and Transit Corridor between Afghanistan, Iran and India. Even so, the Iran- China comprehensive, strategic partnership road map has run into opposition in the Majlis.

Source: The Hindu July 17, 2020 18:32 UTC