New crossing on Kurdistan Region-Iran border to be inaugurated this week

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Region and Iran will officially open a new border crossing in Halabja province on Tuesday, deputy governor said on Saturday. The crossing is yet to be approved by Baghdad. 

Shahin Raza told Rudaw that all preparations have been made by the Kurdish and Iranian sides to inaugurate Shushme border crossing which connects Halabja and Kermanshah provinces.

“All preparations have been completed from the Iranian and our sides. We have expanded the crossing. It will be opened for tourists on Tuesday if we do not face any issues,” he said.

The border crossing was previously open for economic purposes, allowing only trucks to pass. 
 
Raza said the Iraqi government is yet to approve the border crossing, adding that they are working with the federal government in this regard. 

There are several border crossings between the Kurdistan Region and Iran but only three are internationally recognized: Bashmakh and Parwezkhan in Sulaimani province and Haji Omran in Erbil province. 

Qubad Talabani, deputy prime minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), visited the Shushme border crossing last week, saying it would be opened soon. He noted that they are in contact with Baghdad to develop it. 

“This will help boost economic and touristic movement in Halabja province,” said Talabani in a Facebook post at the time.  

In May, a new border crossing was opened in Erbil province’s Barzan area, connecting the Kurdistan Region to Turkey’s Colemerg (Hakkari) province.  

Located between Duhok’s between Zakho and Turkey’s Sirnak, the Ibrahim Khalil border crossing is the most known of Turkey’s two official land border gates with the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. 

The Kurdistan Region heavily relies on products imported from Iran and Turkey.