Iran says Iraq gave no prior notice before closing Al-Sheeb border crossing, now shut to passengers, vehicles and cargo until further notice

Iranian Interior Ministry spokesperson Ali Zeinivand said Iraq did not formally notify Iran before closing the Al-Sheeb border terminal, which links Iraq’s southeastern Maysan province with Iran’s Khuzestan province. According to Al Jazeera, Zeinivand said bilateral agreements require Iraq to give advance notice when it plans to close shared crossings for extended periods. He identified the terminal as Chazabeh, the Iranian name for Al-Sheeb, and said no formal notice had been given.

The closure took effect at 6:00 a.m. after direct orders from Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, Iraqi security officials said. They said Baghdad had ordered the crossing completely closed to passengers, vehicles and commercial cargo until further notice while it reviews security arrangements and installs advanced scanning equipment intended to curb cross-border smuggling.

Al-Sheeb is an economic and transit hub between the two countries, handling heavy commercial traffic in food supplies and construction materials, as well as millions of Iranian pilgrims travelling to holy sites in Najaf and Karbala.

Iraqi sources said security reviews are underway and that additional crossings with Iran may be temporarily closed in stages in the coming days as Baghdad reassesses security measures along its eastern border.