Iraq reopens Al-Shib border crossing with Iran under political pressure

↗ اشتراک‌گذاری

According to Alhurra, the Iraqi government reopened the Al-Shib border crossing with Iran on Tuesday following pressure from leaders of the 'Coordination Framework' (a ruling coalition close to Tehran) on Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi. Reports indicate that some leaders boycotted coalition meetings in protest against the 20-day closure of the crossing. The reopening follows remarks by Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein on November 7, who revealed that Washington had formally requested Baghdad to close all border crossings with Iran except for two. Omar Al-Waeli, head of the Border Ports Authority, stated that Al-Shib was reopened after meeting technical requirements, while the Mandali crossing in Diyala province was temporarily closed for 'maintenance'. Economic experts note that Al-Shib is strategically and commercially vital for Iran due to its direct link to southern Iraq, with 2,000 to 2,500 trucks passing through it monthly.