Restricting Iraq’s Iran border could test Baghdad’s enforcement capacity and carry costs for the country, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein told Al Jazeera while describing a U.S. Treasury request to leave only two crossings open.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Hussein said one crossing that would remain open is in Iraq’s Kurdistan region. He described the request as part of U.S. efforts to increase economic pressure on Tehran.
Hussein said the number of informal routes would make enforcement challenging.
Separately, Baghdad suspended Sheeb operations in October during a security reassessment that included preparing anti-smuggling detection equipment. EconoTimes previously reported that the Sheeb closure halted passenger and freight movement.
