Ahmed Abdullah Al-Dulaimi, a member of the Al-Anbar Coalition, reported on the increasing pressure from the government of Donald Trump, the President of the United States, on Ali Falah Al-Zaydi, the Prime Minister of Iraq, to close the Al-Shib border crossing with Iran. He emphasized that this decision is not independent in any way and has been made under U.S. pressure.
Economic Consequences for Iraq
Al-Dulaimi warned that the closure of the Al-Shib crossing, which is considered one of the important trade routes between Iran and Iraq, could lead to increased economic pressures on Tehran. This action will not only have negative impacts on Iran's economy but will also pose risks to Iraq's economic interests. This Al-Anbar Coalition member is concerned that closing the borders may further involve Baghdad in regional conflicts.
Military and Political Challenges in Iraq
Jason Campbell, a researcher at the American Middle East Institute, also pointed out that the Trump administration's requests to close Iraq's borders with Iran are unrealistic and beyond the capabilities of the Iraqi government. He added that implementing this request would require complex military efforts that could lead to internal unrest in Iraq. This is while the country is still transitioning towards forming a new government and needs to maintain financial and security stability.
Last Tuesday evening, a source in the Maysan Provincial Council announced that the federal government had issued orders to close the Al-Shib border crossing. According to these directives, the crossing will be closed from 6 AM on Wednesday until further notice. This decision was made without prior notification to Iranian officials, and Iran's Ministry of Interior has expressed dissatisfaction with it.
Closing the crossings, especially under the current conditions where the economies of both countries are severely affected by sanctions and political crises, could have serious consequences. Many experts believe that this action could lead to greater instability in the region.
