Iraq closed the Al Sheeb crossing on its border with Iran to travellers and goods from 6am on Wednesday, on the orders of Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi, an official told The National. The official said the move was to review security arrangements at the crossing, while a border official told Reuters detection equipment was being installed to stop smuggling.
Al Sheeb, in Maysan province, is a key route for food and building materials and for Iranian pilgrims travelling to Najaf and Karbala. The official said other crossings were expected to close gradually, which could seriously disrupt trade between the two countries worth more than $10bn last year. The closure is expected to raise prices in southern Iraq and could anger Iran-aligned political blocs. Neither the prime minister's office nor Iran had commented formally.
Source: The National
