Iran Closes Border Crossings With Iraq

An Iraqi border official and his Iranian counterpart check the passports of two Iranian women at the Munthriya border crossing point

TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran has closed several border crossings with Iraq ahead of the Shiite holy day of Ashoura, the country's state television reported Sunday.

The report, citing the government in Tehran, said the crossings were closed to "contain the large number of pilgrims" bound for the Shiite holy city of Karbala in southern Iraq who were planning to cross into Iraq without "legal documents."

No other details were given but the report indicated that not all border crossings had been closed and that some pilgrims were allowed through elsewhere.

Meanwhile, a member of the Iraqi border forces, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to media, said that the closures involved the border checkpoint of Sheeb, in Maysan province, and the Shalamjaa border checkpoint in Basra province.

Read the rest at the Washington Post

Related Link:
Iraq deploying 8,000 to Karbala as 3 million Shia trek to holy ceremony