World
Iraq shuts Shalamcheh border crossing with Iran indefinitely
Iraq has closed the Shalamcheh border crossing with Iran to all traffic until further notice, citing a review of security arrangements at the site.
Two sources at the Shalamcheh border crossing confirmed on Wednesday that Iraq has suspended access for travelers, vehicles, and commercial trucks indefinitely. The closure applies to all categories of transit through this specific checkpoint connecting the two nations.
A separate source indicated that the decision was taken to reassess the security protocols currently in place at the facility. This move follows reports suggesting that several other border points shared with Iran will undergo gradual closures over the coming days.
Scope of upcoming restrictions
The Iraqi Border Ports Authority has not yet specified how many of the six existing crossings between Iraq and Iran will be shut down. No official statement from the Iraqi government has been released regarding the broader timeline or extent of these potential measures.
Iran’s Mehr News Agency reported that informed sources attributed Baghdad’s action to a request from the United States, framing it as part of an economic isolation strategy targeting Tehran. According to these accounts, only two border crossings would remain operational between the two countries following the implementation of these changes.
Prior security-driven shutdowns
This latest suspension echoes events from last month, when the Iraqi government temporarily closed the Shalamcheh crossing due to an ongoing security investigation. That earlier probe was triggered by drone attacks launched against Saudi Arabia from Al-Tayyib Island in Maysan province, a region situated along the Iraqi-Iranian frontier.
