IFP Exclusive

Iran closes border amid chaos in Iraq

The Iranian deputy interior minister for security affairs and the head of the Arbaeen committee says the border with Iraq has been closed after unrest gripped the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

Majid Mirahmadi called on Iranians to avoid from embarking on the Arabeen walk which marks 40 days after the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS) the third Shia Imam. The event draws millions of Iranian pilgrims to Iraq every year.

“Since the safety of Iranian pilgrims is a priority for us, it is necessary for our fellow citizens to temporarily refrain from traveling to Iraq until further notice,” the Iranian deputy interior minister said.

The recent political crisis in Iraq over a deadlock to form a government blew up on Monday after hundreds of followers of Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr stormed the government palace in Baghdad and clashed with security forces following Sadr’s resignation on Monday.

At least 20 protesters have been killed and hundreds more injured.

The Iranian Embassy in Baghdad in a statement called on Iranians not to travel to the cities Kadhimiya, Samarra, and Baghdad in Iraq.

“Given the curfew imposed by the respected government of Iraq, all Iranian pilgrims and fellow countrymen, who are present in the holy cities of Karbala, and Najaf, are cordially requested to prevent from traveling to the cities of Baghdad, Kadhimiya and Samarra until further notice,” the Embassy said on Monday evening.

IFP Editorial Staff

The IFP Editorial Staff is composed of dozens of skilled journalists, news-writers, and analysts whose works are edited and published by experienced editors specialized in Iran News. The editor of each IFP Service is responsible for the report published by the Iran Front Page (IFP) news website, and can be contacted through the ways mentioned in the "IFP Editorial Staff" section.

Recent Posts

“Iran Hamdel” campaign sends aid to Gaza amid war

Aid items donated by millions of Iranians within a national campaign, have reached the beseiged…

3 hours ago

Iranian deputy FM: Cooperation with Saudis serves as a successful model for fostering peace and security

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi has said Iran and Saudi Arabia are committed…

3 hours ago

Official: Iran responds to IAEA resolution with increased nuclear enrichment capacity

Behrouz Kamalvandi, the spokesperson for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), says the organization…

5 hours ago

Pictures: Demonstrators in Tehran support people of Gaza, Lebanon

Hundreds of people gathered in Tehran on Friday morning in front of the United Nations…

5 hours ago

Int’l lawyer: US plans to sanction countries cooperating with ICC on Netanyahu arrest

An international law expert and analyst has revealed the U.S. plans to impose punitive measures…

8 hours ago

Minister of science: 25% of Iranian university professors emigrated due to economic challenges

Iran’s Minister of Science, Research, and Technology, Hossein Simayee Saraf, addressed on Thursday academic migration…

8 hours ago