Iran Reports No Prior Notice Received on Closure of Al-Shaib Border Crossing

The Iranian Ministry of Interior announced on Wednesday that the closure of the Al-Shaib border crossing by the Iraqi side occurred without any prior notification to Tehran, affirming that the relevant authorities are monitoring the situation and examining its details. The ministry spokesperson, Zaini Wand, stated in a press conference that temporary closures of border crossings for periods ranging from one hour to several hours due to security reasons are common procedures that do not require prior notification to the other party. He added that the joint agreement between Iraq and Iran on border crossing management stipulates that the other party must be informed in advance if a crossing is closed for more than one day. He clarified that the Iranian side has not received any official notice regarding the closure of Al-Shaib crossing, noting that Tehran continues to follow up on the matter and study its circumstances. Meanwhile, Iraqi authorities closed the Al-Shaib border crossing with Iran today to travelers, vehicles, and commercial trucks until further notice, aiming to reconsider the security arrangements at the crossing. Sources indicated that Baghdad decided to close the crossing to review security measures described by some as weak and insufficient. In the coming days, a gradual closure of several border crossings with Iran is expected, with no official announcement from the Iraqi government or border authority regarding the details of these measures. Conversely, informed sources reported that the closure decision was made at the request of the United States as part of the economic isolation plan imposed on Iran, which will result in only two border crossings remaining open between the two countries. Previously, the Al-Shaib crossing was closed last month following a security investigation after Saudi Arabia was targeted by drones launched from Al-Tayyib Island in Maysan province, located on the Iraqi-Iranian border.