ChokepointsAnalysis
Iraq reopens Shib crossing with Iran, closes Mandali for maintenance
Shib resumed passenger and commercial traffic on November 10 after three-week closure while Mandali shuts Friday for seasonal work.
Iraq reopened the Shib border crossing with Iran to passenger and commercial traffic on November 10 at 8 am local time after a three-week closure, according to the Border Ports Authority. The reopening followed completion of technical requirements and administrative procedures, the authority said in a statement carried by the official Iraqi News Agency.
Mandali Crossing Closes Friday for Seasonal Work#
The Border Ports Authority announced that the Mandali crossing will close from 8 am on Friday to allow preparation and maintenance work ahead of the rainy season. The authority said seasonal weather conditions could affect vehicle movement within the crossing, making the maintenance necessary. No reopening date was specified, with the authority saying it would be announced after work is completed. Mandali is located in Iraq's eastern Diyala province.
Shib Closure Began October 21#
The Shib crossing closed on October 21, a decision Iraqi government spokesman Haider al-Abboudi linked to incomplete technical preparations. The crossing is located in Iraq's southeastern Maysan province and connects with Iran's Chazabeh crossing in Khuzestan province. Commercial trade with Iran continued through other border crossings during the closure, al-Abboudi said. The crossing had also been closed in September as part of measures to reorganize border operations and investigate reported violations at crossing points. During that period, the Zurbatiyah and Al-Mundhiriyah crossings remained open to travellers.
US Requests Closure of Most Iran Crossings#
The US Treasury Department has asked Iraq to close all border crossings with Iran except for two, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said in an interview with Al Jazeera on November 8. Hussein said Baghdad is in ongoing talks with Washington on the request and warned that such a closure would significantly impact Iraq's economy. He said there are many official and unofficial border crossings with Iran, and closing all of them would be difficult and would affect the economy. The Border Ports Authority said Shib reopened after technical work was finished.
Sources2 sources across 2 domains
- arabtimesonline.comArab TimesShib crossing reopened November 10 at 8 am local time; Mandali closes Friday for maintenance; closure dates and official statements
- al-monitor.comAl-MonitorUS Treasury request to close all Iran crossings except two; Foreign Minister Hussein statement on economic impact
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MENA Trade Monitor is published by Arabian Media Network. Pieces are produced by the Chokepoint Watch with AI-assisted synthesis of the cited sources and automated verification against the network's editorial policy. Every piece carries a desk rather than a reporter. Corrections are recorded on the piece and on the corrections page.
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