Economic Council Approves Financing for Rail Link to Turkey Corridor, Adds 500,000 Tomans to Needy Households' Kalabarg

The Economic Council, chaired by First Vice President Mohammadreza Aref, approved on Monday, October 26, 2026 the financing method for the double-track electric Khavaran, Tabriz, Marand and Cheshmeh Soraya railway, the missing link in the Turkmenistan, Iran and Turkey rail corridor. The council also approved a mechanism for paying refiners through permits to export liquefied gas and kerosene surplus to domestic needs.

Hamid Pourmohammadi, head of the Plan and Budget Organization, said 500 thousand tomans will be added in a first stage to the kalabarg credit for needy groups. Aref said the war damaged 250 million cubic metres of gas production capacity and that 10 to 15 percent savings in consumption are needed to keep the network stable through the cold months. He said price reform for heavy gas users is unavoidable and that supply to those who ignore consumption limits will be cut. The report is based on Ecoiran; the government spokesman has also cited the kalabarg amount as one way to ease economic pressure.