US pressing Iraq to close border crossings with Iran

The United States is pressing Iraq to close all but two of its border crossings with Iran, as part of a strategy to increase economic pressure on Tehran. Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein disclosed Washington's demand. In an interview with Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera, he said Baghdad is in talks with the United States over the matter.

Fuad Hussein said Iraq has many official and unofficial border crossings with Iran. The US Treasury Department has demanded that all but two of them be closed. One of the two crossings proposed to remain open is located in Iraq's Kurdistan region.

The Iraqi foreign minister said, 'We have many official and unofficial border crossings with Iran. It will be difficult to close all of them, and it will harm our economy. The United States is still demanding that the border crossings be closed. We are currently discussing the matter with them.'

Last month, Baghdad closed one of the busiest border crossings with Iran for a security review and to install detection equipment to stop smuggling.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has announced the formation of a new task force to block the entry of weapons and illicit goods into Iran by land. He said on Sunday that the force is working to monitor and conduct operations along the land routes into Iran.

The US military says those land routes are used to send weapons and illicit goods into Iran. The new task force has been formed to shut down those routes, it was announced.

Border trade with Iran is important for the economies of both countries. Iraq's foreign minister has expressed concern that closing the border crossings would affect Iraq's economy.

The United States argues, however, that to increase economic pressure on Iran it is essential to stop smuggling and the movement of illicit goods across the border. Talks between the two countries on the issue are still under way.

It is not yet known whether any final decision has been reached in the talks. Iraq has said its discussions with the United States on the matter are continuing.

With talks between the United States and Iraq on closing the border crossings still ongoing, a new decision on the issue may come in the coming days.