Iran has closed its border with Iraq and urged its citizens to avoid travel to the country, a senior official said today, amid an outbreak of violence after powerful Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr said he would retire from politics.
At least 20 people were killed in heavy clashes in Baghdad yesterday, Monday, when, after Sadr’s announcement, his followers stormed a government building and clashed with rival groups.
Millions of Iranians travel to the Iraqi city of Karbala each year for the religious festival of Arbain that marks the end of a 40-day mourning period for the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Imam Hussein. This year Arbain falls on September 16-17.
“The border with Iraq has been closed. Due to security concerns, Iranians should avoid traveling to Iraq until further notice,” state television quoted Deputy Interior Minister Majid Mirahmadi as saying.
State television said Iran had suspended all flights to Iraq “until further notice due to the ongoing unrest”.
“We are trying to arrange an emergency flight to bring back Iranians from Iraq and Baghdad who are now at the airport. We hope to get them out today,” state television quoted a senior civil aviation official as saying.
SOURCE: AMPE
Source: Capital
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