Iraq begins phased reopening of border crossings with Iran
Iraq began reopening three major border crossings with Iran in stages on Sunday following administrative and technical reviews aimed at strengthening security and improving the movement of people and goods.
The Security Media Cell (SMC), which operates under the Iraqi Joint Operations Command, said the decision was taken on the instructions of Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, Xinhua reported.
The measures are intended to improve the organizational and technical infrastructure at the Shalamcheh, Mandali and al-Sheeb crossings.
Under the reopening schedule, passenger traffic at the al-Sheeb and Shalamcheh crossings resumed at 6 a.m. Sunday. Commercial operations at Shalamcheh are due to restart on Monday, followed by the reopening of trade activity at Mandali on Tuesday and al-Sheeb on Thursday, according to the SMC statement.
The security body stressed that passenger and commercial traffic with Iran through the Zurbatiyah and al-Munthiriya crossings has not been disrupted and continues to operate around the clock.
Iraqi security authorities said Saturday that they had begun administrative and security restructuring measures at several border crossings. The crossings were temporarily closed as part of an investigation into security violations.
The closures followed Prime Minister Al-Zaidi’s decision on Saturday to remove the commander of the Maysan Operations Command after authorities confirmed that attacks against Saudi Arabia had been launched from a location in Iraq’s southern Maysan province.
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry said Friday that its East-West Pipeline had been targeted by several drones launched from Iraqi territory, resulting in injuries and material damage.
The ministry said Riyadh had refrained from taking retaliatory action at this stage at the request of the Iraqi prime minister.
Saudi Arabia has made significant investments in the East-West Pipeline, which transports crude oil from the kingdom’s eastern oil fields to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, allowing shipments to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.