Iran Expresses Shock Over Iraq’s Closure of Al-Sheeb Border Crossing

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Iran’s Interior Ministry expressed concern on Wednesday over Iraq’s decision to close the Al-Sheeb border crossing , saying Tehran received no advance notification of the move.

The ministry’s spokesperson told a press conference that Iran was shocked by the closure. He said an agreement between the two countries requires that if either side decides to close a border crossing for more than one day, the other side be informed at least one day in advance.

The spokesperson added that, contrary to the agreement, Iraq did not notify the Iranian side before deciding to close the crossing.

The statement came as a source at the Maysan Provincial Council said the Federal Government of Iraq had suspended the Al-Sheeb crossing with Iran until further notice.

The source said government instructions reached the province from Baghdad. The crossing, located in the east of Maysan province, closed at 6 a.m. Wednesday and will remain shut until further notice.

A Maysan Provincial Council source also said the closure was ordered for administrative reasons.

Agence France-Presse reported on Wednesday that Iraq is closing its border crossings with Iran under American pressure, citing a decision issued by the office of the Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi. According to the report, only two crossings will remain open: one in the north, and the Mehran crossing, which connects Iraq’s Wasit province with Iran’s Ilam province. AFP said the United States had suggested keeping those two open.

Additional crossings are expected to close gradually in the coming days under al-Zaidi’s directives, according to Iraqi government sources cited by Reuters. Iraq has seven land border crossings with Iran. AFP reported that closing crossings such as Shalamcheh, Zurbatiyah, and Mandali would significantly disrupt trade between the two countries, which exceeded $10 billion last year.

The closures follow a Sept. 12 directive from al-Zaidi ordering border crossings closed over concerns about drone smuggling and attacks on Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline launched from Iraqi territory. Investigation committees were formed to identify drone components and weapons smuggled through the crossings.