Borders With All Neighbors, Except Turkmenistan, Open

Deputy Foreign Minister Gholamreza Ansari said all borders of Iran, except the one with Turkmenistan, are open, adding that the country's missions abroad are negotiating with the host countries to resume trade exchanges.

The official noted that Turkmenistan has closed its borders to all countries, both neighbors and non-neighbors, due to the coronavirus outbreak, Fars News Agency reported.

"They have closed almost all borders to protect themselves from the adverse impact of coronavirus," he added.

Ansari reiterated that fortunately, the movement of goods is continuing through the eastern, western, northern and southern borders of Iran.

"We have introduced protocols for some eastern countries, such as Afghanistan and Pakistan, and Afghan drivers and traders can enter Iran and continue their work in accordance with those regulations and in accordance with the agreement," he said.

Coronavirus is affecting almost all countries and territories around the world. The virus was first reported in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year. It has so far killed more than 207,200 people and infected over 3 million others globally.

Trade with Iran's biggest partner among neighboring countries, Iraq, is carried out via crossings into the Iraqi Kurdistan region.

The border crossings into Iraq, namely Shalamcheh, Chazzabeh, Mehran and Khosravi, will stay closed for commercial exchanges while, according to Spokesman of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration, Rouhollah Latifi, trade between the two sides are currently underway through the border crossings of Parvizkhan, Tamarchin and Bashmaq, Mehr News Agency reported.

The closures have been imposed by the Iraqi government.

Iraq is the main destination of Iranian exports among neighboring countries.

Secretary-General of Iran-Iraq Chamber of Commerce Hamid Hosseini said earlier this month that 700-800 trucks carry Iranian goods across the Iraqi Kurdistan border per day.

source: Argus Media