Intensive talks between Iran and Iraq customs officials are underway regarding the resumption of trade and business activity via Mehran Border, he added.

In this regard, the Iranian ambassador to Iraq is also following up on the case seriously.

Following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, and after about two months of hiatus of bilateral trade via this border, necessary health measures have presently been taken for the resumption of trade activity, the director-general emphasized.

Considering the strategic importance of the Mehran border and special emphasis of the governor-general of Ilam province, efforts are underway for reopening the border crossing, Gholami stressed.

According to the latest joint session held with Iraqi officials, it was agreed to reopen the border for two days a week for exporting foodstuff and agricultural products, he said, adding, “issuance of order from Iraqi officials is needed for implementation of the agreement.”

According to him, based on previous negotiations with the Iraqi side, Mehran border was supposed to be reopened by April 11 but the shutdown period has been extended.

Iraq Border Crossing Department had halted trade activity in the field of unloading and discharging goods imported into Iraq on March 8-15 for a period of one week from borders of Khosravi, Soumar, Mehran, Chazabeh and Shalamcheh for preventing and disinfecting customs campuses as well as increasing facilities for equipment to combat coronavirus.

Given the prohibition of exports via Ilam province to neighboring Iraq, Ilam Customs Office called on exporters not to send their export products to the borders of this province until further notice.

In the last Iranian calendar year (ended on March 19, 2020) some 158,000 tons of standard goods have been exported to Iran via Mehran joint border, in Iranian western Ilam province.

Exports to Iraq through Mehran’s border terminal amounted to about 1.829 million tons during the ten months to January 20.

Over 94,000 trucks carrying goods to Iraq passed through the Mehran Border Terminal in the period, also sowing a 39% growth year-on-year.

Under the outbreak of coronavirus, any activity in Mehran Border Terminal both in the trade and passenger sector is currently closed.

According to a letter received to Mehran Customs Office, the Iraqi government suspended trade and passenger activity in Iran’s Mehran and Iraq’s Zarbatieh Border.

This proposal has been given by the president of Iraq’s Zarbatieh Customs to Wasit Governorate.

Over the past week, Mehran Border was closed due to some problems in Iraq’s Customs and resulted in a suspension of more than a thousand trade and commercial trucks.

Director-General of Ilam Customs Administration Ruhollah Gholami said on Sunday the country’s exports to Iraq through the major gate witnessed a 35% increase in volume, compared with the corresponding period of last year.

According to him, over 94,000 trucks carrying goods for exports to Iraq passed through the Mehran Border Terminal in the period, also sowing a 39% growth year-on-year.

Iran’s exported commodities to Iraq through Mehran Border mainly include cement, agro products, steel products, plastic products, cars, car parts, and petrochemicals.

In spite of US sanctions imposed against the country, Iran’s attraction of foreign investment in the same period increased, showing a 32 percent hike as compared to the last year’s corresponding period, Dejpasand highlighted.

Also, non-oil export volume of the country recorded a 20 percent growth in 10 months of the current year (from March 21 to Jan. 22), he added