Iraq resumes trade through border crossings with Iran

Stranded Iranians and Iraqis wait at the Iraq-Iran border following the Iraqi government’s decision to close the Shalamsheh border crossing in the southern Basra province. Photo: AFP Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Iraq announced on Sunday the resumption of trade through its border crossings with Iran, following a brief closure due to security concerns. The Iraqi Security Media Cell (ISMC) confirmed in a statement that travelers were allowed to enter through the al-Shaib and Shalamcheh border crossings early Sunday morning. The statement also revealed that trade would resume at the Shalamcheh crossing on Monday, at the Mandali crossing on Tuesday, and at the al-Shaib crossing on Thursday. The ISMC further indicated that trade with Iran continues around the clock at the Zurbatiya and al-Mundhiriya border crossings. On Saturday, Iraq closed several border crossings with Iran following a drone attack targeting a pipeline in Saudi Arabia, which Riyadh and Baghdad said originated from Iraqi territory. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack; however, an alliance of Iraqi armed factions backed by Tehran has asserted their non-involvement. Two Iraqi security sources said on Saturday that authorities had discovered drone launchers near the Iraqi-Iranian border, in the remote al-Tayeb area in the ​​southern province of Maysan. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi agreed to an Iranian request for a joint investigation into the matter. After it was confirmed that the attacks originated from within Maysan, al-Zaidi announced the dismissal of the operations commander and the police chief in the border province.