The Director of Sulaymaniyah Customs has formally called on the Iraqi federal government to grant official recognition to four active border crossings along the Iranian frontier.

The director emphasized that the Iranian government already operates these locations as official checkpoints and that standard customs regulations are strictly enforced on both sides.

Iranian Engagement and the Call for Reciprocity

According to Sulaymaniyah Customs Director Qadir Perot, the Kele, Poshta, Seiranban, and Shushme border crossings continue to manage significant bilateral trade despite lacking formal designation from Baghdad. Perot noted that because the Iranian government maintains full official transactions at these sites, the Iraqi federal government should take immediate steps to match the neighboring country’s administrative status and formally legalize the entry points.

Standardization of Customs Procedures

Addressing operational standards, Perot clarified that these four crossings do not operate informally. The exact customs procedures, regulatory checks, and administrative protocols applied at primary international ports are fully active at these sites.

Perot stated that the rigor of import and export oversight at these locations directly mirrors the protocols enforced at the major Bashmagh International Border Crossing.

ASYCUDA Implementation and Clarification on Closures

The call for federal recognition follows regional anxiety regarding the rollout of the Automated System for Customs Data, known as the ASYCUDA system, across the Kurdistan Region. While rumors circulated that the modernization program would result in the immediate closure of un-designated ports, the Sulaymaniyah Customs Directorate reassured the public that these four crossings are secure.

Perot clarified that the scheduled closures under the new automated system target specific informal transit corridors primarily used for local cross-border portering, or Kolbari, involving small-scale goods, basic supplies, and fuel. Well-established trade crossings like Kele, Poshta, Seiranban, and Shushme will remain operational while regional authorities press for their official federal integration.