Iran's Export to Iraq 'Underway' Despite Problems: Official

Chairman of Iran-Iraq Joint Chamber of Commerce Yahya Al-e Eshagh said that Iran's export of products to neighboring Iraq is running despite some problems. He made the remarks in an interview with FNA on Sun. and added, “in spite of opening and closing Iranian and Iraqi borders repeatedly, Iran's export of products to Iraq is underway.” Turning to the trade situation between Iran and Iraq, Al-e Eshagh said, “in recent days, Iranian and Iraqi borders were continually shut down and reopened amid coronavirus outbreak.” Although the trend of Iran’s export to neighboring Iraq is slowed or accelerated, Iran’s export to this country is still underway in general.”

Given the production situation in Iraq, this country meets major demand for its needed consumer products from the Islamic Republic of Iran mainly food products and detergents, he stressed.
Elsewhere in his remarks, he stated, “presently, borders of Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) are open and Iran’s export of products to neighboring Iraq is running via this border but some of the southern borders have been shut down.”

In general, senior officials of the two countries of Iran and Iraq believe that political and trade relations between the two countries should be expanded, Chairman of Iran-Iraq Joint Chamber of Commerce Al-e Eshagh emphasized.

According to Iraq Border Crossing Department, any activity in Mehran Border Terminal both in trade and passenger sector is currently closed until further notice. Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) announced, “Iraq Border Crossing Department had halted trade activity in the field of unloading and discharging goods imported into Iraq on March 8-15 for a period of one week from borders of Khosravi, Soumar, Mehran, Chazabeh and Shalamcheh for preventing and disinfecting customs campuses as well as increasing facilities for equipment to combat coronavirus.”
Given the prohibition of exports via Ilam province to neighboring Iraq, Ilam Customs Office called on exporters not to send their export products to the borders of this province until further notice. - Mehr