Iraqi PM Orders Probe as Maysan Threatens Road Blockades Over Closed Iran Crossing

More than 600 protesters were killed during the 2019 Tishreen movement, a toll that rights organizations cited as demonstrators returned to the streets in Baghdad on October 25. The anniversary protests coincided with a new crisis in the southeastern province of Maysan, where local leaders threatened to block major roads if a border crossing with Iran does not reopen by Thursday. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi ordered an investigation into Mustafa Daeer Mohammedawi, the head of Maysan's provincial council, on Monday following these threats.

Mohammedawi warned that Maysan would resort to civil disobedience if the Sheeb crossing remained shut. He stated that the province could be effectively cut off from the rest of the country. Baghdad closed the crossing on Wednesday, citing a need for better technical and logistical infrastructure. Government spokesperson Haidar al-Aboudi said the site lacked necessary technical and technological preparations. An Iraqi border official told Reuters that the closure allows authorities to review security arrangements and install detection equipment to stop smuggling.

The Sheeb crossing, known as Chazabeh in Iran, serves as a vital commercial route. Abdul Amir Hassan Ali al-Taiban, an adviser to the prime minister, claimed that drugs and currency were entering southern Iraq through Iranian crossings. He referred to uncontrolled groups, a term often used for Iranian-backed militias. Iran's embassy in Baghdad rejected these allegations on Saturday, calling them false and warning that such statements could harm bilateral relations. Militias reportedly used an area near the crossing to target Saudi Arabia in September.

Maysan is a Shiite-majority province where the capital, Amarah, functions as a commercial hub. Truck drivers who depend on trade with Iran gathered near the crossing to protest the closure. Lawmaker Mohammed Jassim al-Khafaji questioned whether Zaidi has the legal authority to investigate an elected council chairman. He argued that only the provincial council can remove its chairman by majority vote.

In Baghdad, participants waved Iraqi flags and demanded political and economic reforms. The demonstrations were driven largely by young Shiite Iraqis frustrated by corruption, unemployment, and the influence of political factions. Protesters also opposed the muhasasa system, which uses sectarian quotas to distribute positions and resources. The National House party, linked to the Tishreen movement, called for peaceful demonstrations and renewed efforts to end corruption and bring weapons under state control.

Hadi al-Amiri, leader of the Badr Organization, recently defended the armed groups accused of suppressing the 2019 protests. At an event in late August, he described the movement as sedition and said the Islamic Resistance in Iraq helped preserve the political order. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq has accused the government of yielding to Washington's demands regarding border crossings and flights involving Iran.

Muntadhar al-Zaidi, an activist and journalist, called for justice over the killings and criticized the concentration of political power. He also pointed to the misuse of public wealth. The next scheduled milestone is the deadline for the Sheeb crossing to reopen, which local officials set for Thursday.