Iraqi PM orders probe into Maysan council chief over civil disobedience threat

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi has ordered an investigation into Mustafa Dair Abdul Hassan, head of the Maysan Provincial Council, following remarks he made on Sunday threatening to declare civil disobedience if the demand to reopen the Al-Sheeb border crossing with Iran was not met.

A statement from the Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office said the directive was issued due to the council chief’s comments, which included threats of disobedience and the use of "inappropriate language." The statement stressed the need to adhere to legal, constitutional, and administrative procedures in addressing service and administrative issues, leaving legal responsibility to the relevant authorities.

On October 20, the Iraqi government ordered the indefinite closure of the Al-Sheeb border crossing with Iran, east of Maysan province, halting both passenger and goods traffic.

Iraqi media quoted security sources as saying the closure was for unspecified technical reasons, with no date set for reopening.

The decision sparked protests in Maysan, where dozens of demonstrators on Sunday blocked the Bazargan road leading to oil company sites, demanding the border crossing be reopened.

Council head Mustafa Dair gave the federal government until next Thursday to reopen the crossing, threatening to declare civil disobedience, block roads, and isolate the province from the rest of Iraq if the demand was not met.

Maysan Governor Habib Zahir Al-Fartousi also called on the prime minister to reopen the crossing, warning of economic and humanitarian consequences, citing rising prices for basic goods and construction materials, declining trade, loss of livelihoods, and disruption of patient travel for medical treatment abroad.

Government spokesperson Haidar Al-Aboudi said Wednesday that Al-Sheeb crossing did not meet the technical and operational requirements for functioning.

Reuters quoted an official from Iraq’s Border Crossings Authority as saying the closure was intended to review security arrangements and install scanning devices to prevent smuggling of prohibited items. The authority also announced, on the prime minister’s orders, that shipments of vegetables stranded on the Iranian side would be allowed in to prevent spoilage.

The closure drew objections from Iran, with the Iranian Interior Ministry saying on October 21 that Baghdad had not notified Tehran in advance, despite agreements between the two countries to inform each other of closures lasting more than one day.

Iranian authorities advised travelers and traders to use the Shalamcheh crossing instead of Jadhaba, the Iranian name for Al-Sheeb.