Trucks line up on a rugged mountain road near a border crossing between the Kurdistan Region and Iran, marked by the Kurdish and Iraqi flags.
Sulaymaniyah
Strike by Iranian freight drivers slows border trade, but no shortages in Kurdistan Region
SULAYMANIYAH — A 10-day strike by Iranian freight truck drivers has sharply curtailed trade at several border crossings with Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, though Kurdish officials say the flow of goods inside the region remains stable.
The nationwide strike, which began in late May, is in response to rising fuel prices, low freight rates, and a controversial plan to implement a three-tier diesel pricing system. Drivers have also cited deteriorating road conditions, growing maintenance costs, and higher insurance premiums. Though initially planned as a weeklong protest, it has expanded to include 31 provinces and 152 cities, drawing in minibus and pickup drivers as well as ride-hailing operators, according to BBC Persian.
“The strike has affected Iranian transit. Freight movement from Iran through the crossing is now down to one-fourth of previous levels,” Shakhawan Abubakr, director of customs at the Bashmakh border crossing, told 964media.
Bashmakh, located near Penjwen in Sulaymaniyah governorate, links Iraq to Iran’s Kurdistan province and the city of Marivan. It is one of several key trade routes between the two countries.
Despite the slowdown, Abubakr said the Kurdistan Region has not experienced shortages. “Our own [Iraqi drivers’] trucks continue operating across the borders, and there has been no shortage of Iranian goods in Kurdistan, as those goods are also transported by Kurdish and Iraqi drivers,” he said.
In Raparin, another area of Sulaymaniyah, officials reported similar effects at the Kele border crossing.
“About 150 trucks used to enter the Kurdistan Region daily through the Kele border crossing. That number is now down to just 40 to 50 trucks,” said Abbas Aziz, head of customs in Raparin.
Aziz said there were indications the strike may soon end. “Based on available information, Iranian truck drivers may resume work in the coming days,” he added, suggesting trade could return to normal levels shortly.
Iraq and Iran share a 1,599-kilometer border with multiple official crossings vital for commerce and travel. Key trade points include Bashmakh and Parvizkhan in Sulaymaniyah, Haji Omeran in Erbil, Khosravi and Mandali in Diyala, Mehran in Wasit, and Shalamcheh in Basra. In the first seven months of 2024, Iran’s exports to Iraq totaled $7.6 billion, highlighting Iraq’s status as a top trade partner.