Iraq closes Al Sheeb crossing with Iran; Maysan leader faces probe over protest threat

Mixed · 2Iraq closed the Al Sheeb (also spelled Al-Shaib) border crossing with Iran in Maysan Governorate on Wednesday 21 October, and the Jerusalem Post says some other crossings with Iran were also shut. 1 2 Mixed · 2Baghdad said the closure was needed for security reasons; the Jerusalem Post reports it cited the need for upgrades to security and technical infrastructure. 1 2 Mixed · 2Iran criticised the move, saying it received no advance notice; the Jerusalem Post, citing Rudaw, adds that Iran rejected allegations that narcotics and counterfeit currency are smuggled through the crossings, and an Iranian Interior Ministry spokesman, Ali Zeinivand, said the matter is under review. 1 2

Centre · 1Abdelamir Taiban, a senior adviser to Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi, said Iran had "deliberately undermined Iraq's security", alleging unauthorised entry by Iranian-linked people and a flow of drugs and counterfeit currency that he said did more economic damage than ISIS; Iran's embassy on Saturday called these "false allegations". 2 Centre · 1The closure has drawn domestic opposition: dozens of lorry drivers and workers demonstrated, saying their livelihoods depend on cross-border traffic, and Maysan Governor Habib Dhahir Al Fartousi urged reopening, warning of higher prices and disrupted trade. 2 Centre · 1On Sunday, Mustafa Duair Abdulhassan, head of Maysan's provincial council and a member of Sadiqoun, the political wing of the Iran-aligned Asaib Ahl Al Haq, said people would have to "resort to civil disobedience and cut Maysan off from the rest of Iraq" if the crossing stayed shut. 2

Centre · 1On Monday 26 October, Baghdad's Karkh Court ordered an investigation into him after Al Zaidi called for a probe; the prime minister's office cited "threats" and "inappropriate language", while Al Zaidi also told security forces to ensure a safe environment for demonstrators. 2 Right · 1The Jerusalem Post frames the closure as part of Iraq bracing for renewed fighting with Iran, saying Tehran carried out some 1,000 strikes on the Kurdistan Region and Iran-backed militias launched about 600 attacks inside Iraq, most on US diplomatic facilities; the article does not give dates for these. 1 Right · 1It also says the crossing is believed to be near where an Iran-backed militia launched a September drone strike on Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline, and that, per Rudaw, Iranian businessman Babak Zanjani called for restrictions on Iraqi oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation. 1

Right · 1The Kurdistan Regional Government's Interior Ministry denied reports that Ukrainian forces or drones operate from its territory, calling them baseless and stressing neutrality; the Jerusalem Post says the source of the reports is unclear and that Tehran is pressing Iraq to expel Iranian Kurdish opposition groups. 1 Mixed · 2Al Zaidi, in office since May, seeks balanced ties with Tehran and Washington while bringing armed factions under state control, which some Iran-aligned groups have accepted and others resisted; separately, Iraq is stepping up border security with Jordan and Syria. 2 1