IRNA � Chabahar will become a competitive and modern port that can play the role of a gateway to the countries of the region, Iran's minister of Road and Urban Development said on Sunday.

'Chabahar Port is promising for the countries neighboring Iran in terms of transportation of goods, and it can prompt development and economic boom in the region,' Abbas Akhoundi said in the opening ceremony of the first phase of Shahid Beheshti Port in the southeastern Iranian city of Chabahar.

The first phase of Shahid Beheshti Port in Sistan-Baluchestan Proivince was officially by Iran's President Hasssan Rouhani during a ceremony that was attended by 60 foreign guests from 17 countries.

'With the connection to the railway network, the port will play a big role in Iran's development, and it will link Afghanistan and Central Asian countries to the high seas,' he said.

One of the plans on Iran's agenda is to connect Chabahar to Pakistan's Gwadar Port, according to the minister.

Developing Chabahar's ports will improve transportation of petrochemical products, and Iran is trying to provide investors with all the transportation and logistic requirements, Akhoundi said.

Chabahar, the only oceanic port of Iran, lies at the Gulf of Oman, 645 km to the south of Zahedan, the provincial capital city.