No decisions made to reopen two Iranian border gates with Kurdistan: Consulate

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – An Iranian official on Monday stated that no decisions had been made to re-open the two remaining border crossings with the Kurdistan Region.

“No decision has been made yet by Iran and Iraq to re-open the border crossings of Haji Omaran and Parwezkhan. Only Bashmakh gate has been opened,” a statement by the Iranian Consulate General in Erbil reads.

The statement comes two days after Aram Sayakhan, the media director of the Parwezkhan border gate told Kurdistan 24 that Iranian officials had agreed to reopen the border crossing.

“We have contacted the Iranian officials at the border gate. They have informed us that it would open in less than 48 hours to people and for trade,” Sayakhan said at the time.

There are three official border crossings between the Kurdistan Region and Iraq: Bashmakh, Parwezkhan, and Haji Omaran. So far, the only border gate located in the Erbil province remains closed.

Trade between the Kurdistan Region and Iran each year amount to tens of billions of dollars.

On October 25, Iran reopened the first border crossing of Bashmakh with the Kurdistan Region. The decision came on the same day as the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) offered to freeze the results of the Sep. 25 vote as a step toward resolving its disputes with Baghdad through dialogue rather than military means.

Despite having good economic relations with Iran, KRG officials have often accused Tehran of interfering in the internal political affairs of the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.

Editing by Nadia Riva