Iran Reopens Strategic Aq Qala Railway Bridge

Iranian authorities have reopened the strategic Aq Qala railway bridge in less than 24 hours after it was damaged in in a U.S.-Israeli missile strike, with Golestan Province’s governor describing the rapid restoration as a practical response to attempts to disrupt the country’s transport infrastructure.

Golestan Governor Ali Asghar Tahmasebi said provincial officials visited the site within hours of the attack and ordered the immediate launch of safety inspections, debris removal, and damage assessments. Emergency, engineering, and public service teams were mobilized to restore the rail link as quickly as possible.

Tahmasebi said the province “will not back down in the face of threats,” adding that the swift reopening of the bridge demonstrated Iran’s determination to maintain the continuity of its transportation network. Following technical inspections and safety tests, the bridge was reopened to rail traffic in less than 24 hours, while full restoration work remains underway.

According to reports, the bridge in Aq Qala, Golestan Province, was targeted in a U.S.-Israeli missile attack early Thursday. No casualties were reported, although the railway infrastructure sustained damage.

The Aq Qala railway bridge is part of the China–Turkmenistan–Iran rail corridor, a key regional transit route that has gained strategic importance in recent months. The corridor has been used to transport Russian cargo and has seen a sharp increase in Chinese freight traffic following disruptions to maritime shipping routes. - Kayhan