AFP: Iraq Closes Most Iran Border Crossings Under US Pressure
The US suggested keeping one northern crossing and the Mehran crossing in the center open, as PM al-Zaidi orders gradual closure of all remaining crossings following drone smuggling concerns and Saudi pipeline attacks launched from Iraqi territory
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) - Iraq is closing its border crossings with Iran under American pressure, with only two crossings to remain open, one in the north and the Mehran crossing connecting Iraq's Wasit Governorate with Iran's Ilam province, Agence France-Presse reported on Wednesday with the decision issued by the office of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi.
The closures began with the Shaib crossing in Maysan Province, shut since 06:00 Wednesday morning until further notice, which Kurdistan 24 exclusively reported earlier today. Additional crossings are expected to be closed gradually in the coming days under al-Zaidi's directives, according to Iraqi government sources cited by Al Jazeera and Reuters.
Iraq has seven land border crossings with Iran. If crossings such as Shalamcheh, Zurbatiyah, and Mandali are also closed, it would significantly disrupt Iraq-Iran trade, which exceeded $10 billion last year. Iranian state media reported that Tehran was not given advance notice of the Shaib closure. According to an agreement between Iran and Iraq, any closure lasting more than one day requires advance notification to the other party.
The Background
The closures follow PM al-Zaidi's September 12 directive ordering border crossing closures after confirmation that Iran was involved in drone strikes on Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline launched from Iraqi territory, with investigation committees formed to identify drone components and weapons smuggled through the crossings. A Maysan Provincial Council source told Kurdistan 24 earlier Wednesday that the Shaib closure was ordered for administrative reasons, while the broader AFP and Al-Ain reporting confirms the closures are the result of direct American pressure on Baghdad.
The US suggested keeping only two crossings open, one in the north and the Mehran crossing in the center, as part of its pressure campaign on Baghdad to reduce Iranian access to Iraqi territory for weapons and material smuggling to Iran-aligned armed factions.
The closures are consistent with the broader framework of Washington's demands on Baghdad, including the militia disarmament deadline extended to June 2027, the dollar transfer conditionality, and Secretary Rubio's explicit demand at UNGA that Iraq exercise full sovereignty and prevent attacks from its territory.