Iraq and Pakistan Close Border Crossings to Isolate Iran Economy
Iraq and Pakistan have closed key land border crossings with Iran, intensifying a U.S.-led economic isolation campaign that has left thousands of trucks stranded.
Iraq and Pakistan have closed several key land border crossings with Iran this week, significantly impacting the Iranian economy amid an ongoing maritime blockade, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Official statements from Baghdad claimed the measure aims to curb smuggling, while Islamabad hinted at enforcing international sanctions against Tehran. As of September 29, approximately 17,000 trucks were stranded at Iranian borders with Turkey, Afghanistan, and Azerbaijan, with wait times reaching up to 20 days, Iranian media reported.
The Iranian Truck Drivers Association stated that some drivers were forced to abandon shipments of fruits and agricultural produce that spoiled during the prolonged delays. Border closures by Pakistan also left more than 4,500 tons of bottled gas, one of the few remaining energy exports from Tehran, stranded on the Iranian side.
Earlier this month, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced he is working with Pakistan and Turkey to sever Iran's overland transit routes. Speaking at the Newsmax Policy Summit, Bessent emphasized that the United States is moving beyond financial sanctions to enact a total isolation campaign against Iran.
A Trump administration official noted that the broader economic campaign is isolating the Iranian regime and driving it toward desperation. While other border crossings remain operational, the closures have severely exacerbated congestion across remaining overland transit routes.
