Iraq Closes Border Crossings with Iran
Iraq closes border checkpoints with Iran over alleged Tehran involvement in September attacks on Saudi Arabia
Iraq has closed most of its border checkpoints with Iran, citing evidence of Tehran's involvement in recent attacks on Saudi Arabia launched from Iraqi territory, Russia's state news agency TASS reported.
The closure was ordered by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, following reports that Iran was involved in the September 11 attack on Saudi Arabia's East-West oil pipeline. The Iraqi authorities also believe that Iran imported components for drone assembly into border areas, which were then used in attacks on Saudi Arabia.
The East-West oil pipeline was struck on September 11, and the next day, the Iraqi prime minister dismissed the commander of the operational command in Maysan Province after it was confirmed that the drones had been launched from his territory.
The official authorities in Iraq and Iran have not yet commented on the report.
Iraq and Iran share a long border, and the relationship between the two countries has been sensitive in recent years. The US has imposed sanctions on Iran, and Iraq has struggled to maintain a balance between its relationships with Iran and the US.
The conflict in Yemen and the ongoing tensions in the region have also contributed to the complex dynamics between Iraq, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. The Iraqi government's decision to close the border crossings with Iran is likely to have significant implications for trade and security in the region.