Iraqi Kurd officials worried about Iran shutting borders

Iran has shut three border crossings with Iraqi Kurdistan Region at Baghdad request.

Borders will be closed temporarily and just Iranian citizens will be allowed to travel from Iraqi Kurdistan Region to Iran and at the same time Iraqis can enter KRG, General Manager of the Iran and Kurdistan Region of Iraq relations Abdullah Saleh told Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).

He went on to say that Iran has cut all border ties with Iraqi Kurdistan Region.

Border closure will have adverse effects on economic conditions of the Region and Kurd officials hope that both Iran and the Region will resume economic and border relations soon, Saleh said.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of Iraqi Kurdistan Region Nechirvan Barzani expressed hope that shutting borders would be temporary.

In the meantime, Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement announced that Iran has shut its border crossings with Iraqi Kurdistan Region at the request of Baghdad government.

Despite opposition by the Iraqi Federal Government and regional states, as well as international warnings, the KRG referendum was held on Sep 25 in some northern Iraqi provinces, including Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Duhok, and some disputed regions like Kirkuk.

Translator: Ali Izadi

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