Iran closes land crossings with Iraq amid unrest

TEHRAN, Iran

Iran closed its border crossings with Iraq on Tuesday amid unrest in the Arab country, according to the state news agency IRNA.

Iraqi authorities on Monday declared a nationwide curfew after supporters of influential Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr stormed the Republican Palace where the government is seated in Baghdad.

The situation escalated shortly after al-Sadr said he was stepping down from politics amid a months-long political crisis in Iraq.

"Following the imposition of a curfew in several Iraqi cities, the land borders of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Iraq have been closed until further notice,” Iran’s Deputy Interior Minister Majid Mirahmadi said in a statement.

At least 13 protesters were killed on Monday and hundreds injured in Iraq, according to local media.

Intra-Shia disputes have prevented the formation of a new government in Iraq since the last elections on Oct. 10, 2021.

*Ikram Imane Kouachi contributed to this report