Traffic Restrictions Put in Place on Iraqi Border Crossings

EghtesadOnline: The customs offices of Iran and Iraq have taken measures to ease the travel of pilgrims from border checkpoints to Iraqi cities during Arbaeen.

News ID: ۷۸۴۲۲۸

21 October 2018

As such, transits through Shalamcheh Border Crossing in the southern Khuzestan Province have been banned at the request of the Iraqi side.

Hossein Salari, the director general of the Transit Supervision Bureau with the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration, communicated the new regulation in a directive to customs offices across the country on Oct. 15, asking them not to ship cargos to the aforementioned border terminal until further notice, Financial Tribune reported.

Chazzabeh Border Crossing, also in Khuzestan, was closed to trucks carrying commercial goods on Oct. 18 due to the heavy traffic caused by the commuting of passengers at this checkpoint, Mehr News Agency reported.

Mohsen Memari, manager of Shalamcheh Customs Office, said on Wednesday that Iraqi customs officials have banned the cabotage of Iranian personal cars into Iraq through this border crossing during Arbaeen because of the traffic jams on routes leading to Iraqi shrine cities.

This regulation does not apply to buses, minibuses and vans.

> Special Fleet Put in Service

The Islamic Republic of Iran Railways has put 176 trains in service from Oct. 19 to Nov. 2 on the route from Tehran to Kermanshah and back to serve pilgrims to Iraqi cities during Arbaeen, ILNA reported.

As IRIR has announced, 24 trains will be dedicated to the purpose in the southern railroad network.

Khorramshahr Governor Valiollah Hayati has said four vessels will provide commuting services to pilgrims from this Iranian port city to Basra in Iraq during the period.

Iraq hosts over two million Iranians every year for Arbaeen, a major Shia event marking the 40th-day anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (PBUH), the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), and his 72 family members and companions at the hands of the brutal ruler Yazid in 680.

Each year, Shias converge on the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (PBUH) in the holy city of Karbala in Iraq to participate in the mourning ceremonies.