Iran, Iraq to begin dredging operations on Arvand border

The Iranian Ports and Maritime Organisation announced Iran's and Iraq's collaboration concerning the dredging operations on Arvand border river in Iranian southwestern city of Khorramshahr in Khouzestan.

The two countries met on Sunday, May 19, and decided to issue a temporary committee responsible for the technical matters of the operations, aiming to provide the preconditions for joint dredging of Arvand River.

In addition, the Task Force is scheduled to meet every two weeks, to conduct their technical studies and also present their proposals to the Joint Meeting. They also announced that they are to conduct the first meeting on June 9, in Baghdad.

Arvand is a river of some 200 km in length, formed by the confluence of the Euphrates and the Tigris in the Basra Governorate of southern Iraq. The southern end of the river constitutes the border between Iraq and Iran down to the mouth of the river as it discharges into the Persian Gulf.

During the meeting, Iran was represented by the Directorate General of International Law of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and head of the Iraqi delegation.

Concluding, Mohammad Rashad, the Managing Director of the PMO and Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development announced that the dredging operations on the river will commence after the month of Ramadan.