Shib Border Crossing Sparks Dispute Between Baghdad and Maysan; 3-Day Deadline for Reopening

Maysan Provincial Council Chairman Mustafa Daheer Abdul Hassan granted the Iraqi federal government a deadline until next Thursday to reopen the Shib border crossing with Iran, hinting at declaring civil disobedience and blocking roads, up to threatening to separate the province from Iraq if his demand is not met.

In response, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falih Al-Zaidi ordered an investigation into the council chairman regarding his statements.

The deadline came amid protests in Maysan province opposing the continued closure of the crossing and demanding the resumption of commercial activity, amidst fears of the decision's repercussions on local markets and the movement of travelers and goods.

Dozens of protesters blocked the Bazarkan road leading to oil company sites in the province, chanting slogans demanding the cancellation of the closure decision, while the area witnessed a security deployment.

Local officials warned of the implications of the crossing's continued suspension on commercial activity and residents' livelihoods, noting a rise in prices of some goods and damage to truck and traveler movements.

Baghdad opens investigation into statements
On Monday, the Iraqi Prime Minister ordered an investigation into the Maysan Provincial Council Chairman following his threat to take escalatory steps if the Shib crossing was not reopened.

The Prime Minister's media office clarified that the investigation aims to ensure compliance with the law and constitutional and administrative procedures, with competent authorities determining legal responsibility for the statements.

The government move comes in the face of threats to use civil disobedience and block roads, as well as hints at separating the province from Iraq, statements that place the crisis between local authorities and the federal government before a legal and administrative path.

In parallel, Maysan Governor Habib Thahir Al-Fartousi called on the government to intervene to address the crisis, amid protests and concerns about the continued impact of the closure on commercial activity and residents' conditions.

Reasons for closure and parties' positions
The Iraqi government decided to close the Shib crossing on October 20, and implementation began the following morning, to continue until further notice.

The crossing is located in Maysan province in southeastern Iraq, facing the Jazabeh checkpoint in Iran's Khuzestan province, and is used for passenger movement and goods transport between the two countries.

Iraqi Government Spokesman Haider Al-Aboudi attributed the closure decision to the crossing's lack of technical and engineering readiness, explaining that the work stoppage aims to improve its operational and logistical capabilities, and that trade exchange with Iran continues through other crossings.

In contrast, Agence France-Presse quoted two political sources saying Washington is pressuring Baghdad to close crossings with Iran to tighten economic pressure on Tehran.

The decision also provoked Iranian dissatisfaction, which stated it had not received prior notification, while its embassy in Baghdad denied Iraqi accusations linking the closure to drug proliferation and counterfeit currency distribution.

The Shib crossing had previously been closed last September within measures that included other border crossings. The Iraqi Security Media Cell attributed those measures to administrative and security arrangements and investigations into violations and breaches, before gradually resuming movement.

Local pressures and cross-border repercussions
The Shib crossing is one of the checkpoints used in commercial exchange and movement between Iraq and Iran, while the Shalamcheh and Jazabeh crossings are among the most prominent official entry points between the two countries via Iran's Khuzestan province.

The continued closure places the federal government before local demands to resume commercial movement, coinciding with protests in Maysan and concerns about the decision's repercussions on markets and the movement of travelers and trucks.

At the same time, the crisis intersects with security and border files and relations between Baghdad and Tehran, alongside what has been raised regarding American pressures.

While the provincial council demands reopening the crossing, the Iraqi government moves toward investigating statements containing threats of civil disobedience and provincial separation, a development reflecting the widening dispute over crisis management and the limits of local and federal authorities' powers.