Two sources at the al-Sheeb border crossing between Iraq and Iran said Wednesday that Iraq has closed the crossing to passengers, vehicles, and commercial trucks until further notice.
Another source said the decision was made to review security arrangements at the crossing, according to Reuters.
1+This is the first time Iraq has closed a border crossing with Iran since the U.S.-led international coalition withdrew from its territory. Iraqi Prime Minister al-Sudani was supposed to dismantle pro-Iranian terror militias alongside the troop withdrawal, but convinced the Americans to give him a 9-month extension to complete the task. The report did not mention whether the security decision is related to militia activity.
The al-Sheeb crossing, located in eastern Iraq opposite Iran’s Khuzestan province (home to most of Iran’s Arab population), is one of the main land crossings between the two countries for passenger traffic and mutual trade. Suspending operations there could disrupt truck and passenger movement through this crossing, and some shipments may be diverted to alternative crossings if the closure continues.
1+The last border closure occurred in September, after Iranian militias operating in Iraqi territory attacked the Saudi oil pipeline. Iraq’s prime minister ordered the border crossings closed so the attackers couldn’t flee to Iranian territory, but reopened them just days later without announcing that the perpetrators had been caught.