Iraq to reopen border crossings with Iran

The Iraqi government has announced that it will reopen the three border crossings with Iran to resume trade activities between the two countries.

Omar al-Waeli, head of the border affairs department at the Iraqi Interior Ministry, said that in response to requests from Iraq’s eastern provinces to reopen some of the ports, the requests had been transferred to the prime minister’s office to reopen some border crossings with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

“The Iraqi prime minister has agreed to reopen the Shalamcheh outlets in Basra and Zara Batiya provinces, Wasit and Mandli provinces in Diyala province for one day a week,” he said.

“This decision has not yet come into effect as the necessary mechanisms for health steps and relevant guidance should be provided to combat the outbreak of the coronavirus,” he added.

The Iraqi government closed border crossings with Iran nearly two months ago as part of measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus.