Iranian First Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri announced on Tuesday that Ayatollah Khamenei has given approval to withdrawing a sum of $300 million from the National Development Fund for completing a railroad project that links the city of Zahedan to the port of Chabahar in the province of Sistan and Balouchestan.
He also called on the Ministry of Road and Urban Development to pursue the project seriously.
The vice president said the railroad project would be part of a plan for the development of the Makran coasts southeast of Iran.
The strategic Makran region has attracted the attention of many Iranian decision-makers and military officials, particularly after Ayatollah Khamenei stressed the need for development of the region, located mainly in the province of Sistan and Balouchestan.
The large, underprivileged province borders Pakistan and Afghanistan, and has a long coastline by the Sea of Oman. The desert province grapples with severe water shortage, particle pollution, underdeveloped infrastructure and transit of illicit drugs.