Erbil, Tehran agree on 24-hour business, passenger border crossing

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has reached an agreement with Iran to turn the Haji Omran border into a 24-hour crossing point where people and businesses on sides of the border continue round the clock.

The agreement signed between Erbil and Tehran leans against four main points.

“The first point in the four-point agreement is that mayors of Choman and Piranshahr will meet once a month to resolve emerging problems,” Abdullah Akraye, head of KRG-Iran relations, told Rudaw.

Akraye said that at the higher level governors would meet.

“The governors of Erbil and Urmia will meet once every three months to resolve these problems,” he added.

The third and main point of the agreement, according to Akraye, is turning the gate into a 24-hour crossing.

“The last point in the agreement demands a better treatment of drivers and business people crossing the border,” he said.

Iran is KRG’s second largest trade partner after Turkey with several official trade and passenger crossings serving both sides from Khanaqin to Haji Omran.

Kele, Sayranban, and Tawela are among three semi-official border crossings between the two.