An Iraqi border official said authorities closed the Sheeb crossing with Iran on Oct. 21 while reviewing security and planning detection equipment, Reuters reported, halting travel and freight movement.
Two other sources at the crossing told Reuters the closure covers passengers, vehicles and commercial trucks and will remain in effect until further notice. The Iraqi official described existing security measures as inadequate and said the planned equipment would help detect prohibited materials.
The crossing is known in Iran as Chazabeh. Valiollah Hayati, a security official in Iran’s Khuzestan province, said Iraq made the decision to close it, the Iranian Labour News Agency reported. He advised travelers and truck drivers to use the Shalamcheh crossing, also in Khuzestan.
After drone attacks on Saudi Arabia in September, Iraq temporarily closed Shalamcheh as a precaution, two security sources told Reuters at the time. Hayati said Iran’s Interior Ministry and Iraqi provincial authorities were discussing a resumption of operations at Sheeb.
