Iraq says Iran border secure, cites coordination with Peshmerga

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Border Guard Forces commander on Saturday said the country’s border with Iran is secure, highlighting ongoing coordination with Peshmerga forces to prevent infiltration.

Lt. Gen. Mohammed Sakr told official Iraqi media that the 1,493-kilometer border with Iran, including sectors along Erbil, Sulaymaniyah and Halabja governorates, is protected and poses “no infiltration or threat to the Iranian side.”

He said border security is maintained in cooperation with Peshmerga and Asayish forces, adding that recent events have shown that protection measures have been strengthened.

Sakr rejected reports alleging infiltration from Iraqi territory into Iran, stating that continuous coordination and communication exist between Iraqi border command and the Iranian side. He added that border areas in Diyala, Wasit, Maysan and Basra governorates are stable and that cooperation there is proceeding effectively.

A video obtained by 964media shows Iraqi border guard units moving toward the Penjwen border area, where they appear to be deploying to assume responsibility for protecting the frontier.

The comments follow warnings issued by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps urging authorities in the Kurdistan Region not to allow Iranian opposition armed groups or any other groups to cross into Iranian territory from border areas.