US pushes Iraq to seal almost every crossing on the Iranian border
Washington wants Iraq to shut all but two of its border crossings with Iran, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein told Al Jazeera. Hussein said the ask is part of the US Treasury's tightening economic squeeze on Tehran, and that shuttering them all would be hard on Baghdad's economy.
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The request came from the US Treasury, which wants Iraq to close every border crossing with Iran bar two as Washington ratchets up economic pressure on Tehran. Fuad Hussein laid out the demand in an interview with Al Jazeera, saying talks with the Americans are still live.
One of the exceptions is the Iraqi Kurdistan region, Hussein said. Iraq shares a long frontier with Iran dotted with both official and unofficial crossing points, which is exactly why the ask is awkward for Baghdad.
Hussein was blunt about the cost: closing the whole lot would be difficult and would hit Iraq's economy. Iraq's side is still negotiating, and no final arrangement has been announced.
Baghdad has already tightened at least one door. Last month it closed Sheeb, a busy crossing with Iran, giving Washington a concrete step while the wider talks continue.
TopicsFuad Hussein · Iraq · Iran · US Treasury · Al Jazeera · Iraqi Kurdistan · Sheeb border crossing
Written by Paparazzi with AI. Not financial advice.