Al-Zaidi probes Maysan council after al-Shib crossing shuts

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi ordered an investigation into the Maysan Provincial Council on Monday. The probe follows threats made by Council Chairman Mustafa Da’ir to stage a civil disobedience campaign if the al-Shib border crossing with Iran remained closed.

Authorities shut the crossing last week to upgrade security and detection equipment, according to an Iraqi official who spoke to Reuters on Wednesday. However, Kurdistan Democratic Party lawmaker Salwan Taha Akreyi told Kurdistan24 that the closure was executed at Washington’s request. Akreyi stated that the move aimed to restrict transit to and from Iran and hinder Tehran’s efforts to strengthen its militias inside Iraq.

Da’ir responded by warning of unrest and stating he would cut the province off from the rest of the country. He set a three-day deadline for Baghdad to act before he escalated his response. Dozens of protesters blocked roads leading to oil companies in the region to demonstrate against the closure, according to Asharq Al-Awsat.

The Badr bloc, a Shiite Islamist group, rejected Al-Zaidi’s call for an investigation. The bloc argued the closure was damaging the local economy and warned that prolonging the dispute could harm relations between Baghdad and the province. Badr also urged the government to target alleged smuggling through unofficial crossings in the Kurdistan region.

The shutdown occurs as the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has increased Iran’s reliance on land routes through Iraq and Pakistan for shipments. Tehran condemned the closure and rejected claims that the al-Shib crossing was used to traffic drugs and counterfeit currency.