Kurdistan Region border crossings with Iran disrupted as regional conflict continues

KURDISTAN REGION — Border operations between the Kurdistan Region and Iran remained disrupted Monday, with crossings adopting different postures as the regional conflict continues.

Parwezkhan, in Sulaymaniyah, suspended commercial traffic for one day and is set to resume Tuesday, according to a local source who told 964media that “if nothing unexpected happens by tomorrow, the border will reopen.”

Haji Omaran has been fully closed to commercial traffic since Sunday, with tourist movement also restricted to returning travelers only — Iranian passport holders returning to Iran and Iraqi passport holders returning to Iraq. Mayor of Choman Ahmed Barzan Aliko told 964media the closure came from the Iranian side. “We have spoken with officials on the Iranian side about reopening the crossing, but they say the decision came from higher authorities and they do not know how long it will remain closed,” he said. Haji Omaran is one of the main crossings between the Kurdistan Region and Iran, generating revenue through trade and tourism.

Bashmakh, near Penjwen in Sulaymaniyah, remains open for both commercial and tourist traffic. “Our borders are officially open, and tourist and commercial traffic have not been suspended,” Mariwan Karim, head of media and relations at the crossing, told 964media, noting that the Iranian side occasionally imposes temporary halts before reopening.