By Ali Jawad
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AA) – Iraq announced the resumption of trade movement through the Shalamija crossing with Iran on Sunday.
“Around 250 trucks will cross the terminal from Sunday to Wednesday every week,” Alaa al-Din al-Qaisi, spokesperson for the Iraqi Border Crossing Authority, told Anadolu Agency.
Located in southern Iraq, the Shalamija crossing was closed from July 31 until Aug. 8 as part of measures to stem the spread of coronavirus.
Iraq has five crossing points with Iran; Shalamija crossing in Basra province, Zurbatiyah crossing in Wasit, al-Sheikh in Maysan and Montheriya and Mandali crossings in Diyala province.
The government on Saturday extended the partial, nationwide virus curfew until Aug. 15, with a total curfew on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
The Arab nation, which is struggling to contain the outbreak amid a shortage of medical oxygen supplies and protective equipment, has so far registered 147,389 virus cases, including 5,310 deaths 105,504 recoveries.
*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara