Iran reopens last two land gates with Kurdistan Region

HAJI OMARAN, Kurdistan Region – Iran has reopened the two remaining land gates with the Kurdistan Region it had closed more than two months ago after Kurdistan’s vote for independence, officials confirmed on Tuesday.

Tehran closed the Parviz Khan and Bashmakh border crossing located in Sulaimani province and Haji Omaran in Erbil province in mid-October at the request of the Iraqi government after the KRG’s referendum.

“Fortunately, Parviz Khan border has now been opened,” Arma Hasan, spokesperson for the KRG-controlled border gate told Rudaw. “Trade movement is going on now and people also travel normally.”

At the Haji Omaran border crossing, Masoud Batelli said that with today's decision by the Iranian authorities, “No obstacles for trade or travel remain.”

“You can see all three gates of trade, travel, and transit are now open,” he said as taxis, trucks and people could be seen moving across the border in both directions.

“We inform all traders, companies and travelers that they can engage in trade and travelers can visit Iran from now on,” he said in an appeal to bring back business activities to the border area.

The Iranian consulate in Erbil said they decided to open the border gates after talks with the Iraqi government.

“In light of normal negotiations with the Republic of Iraq, we declare this to all that the border port of Tamarchian [Haji Omaran] in Piranshahr and Parviz-Khan in Qasr-e Shirin between the Kurdistan Region and the Islamic Republic of Iran which were closed at an official request from Iraq will reopen on Tuesday,” the consulate in Erbil said in a statement.

Iran closed its three official border crossing on October 15 at the request of the Iraqi government. It reopened Bashmakh, close to Halabja, ten days later.

Iran became the first country to close its airspace to flights in and out of Kurdistan a day before the September 25 referendum, also at the request of the Iraqi government.

The KRG has described the flight ban as “collective punishment” against the people of Kurdistan.