KABUL: The New York Times, citing Iraqi and U.S. officials, has reported that Washington’s weeks-long diplomatic efforts to close border crossings with Iran have so far failed.
According to the report, the United States has sought to persuade Iraq, Turkey and Pakistan to shut their borders with Iran, but the countries are concerned that halting cross-border trade could cause economic losses and potentially trigger domestic unrest.
The newspaper said Washington had asked Baghdad to close all border routes and crossings with Iran except two, but Iraqi officials rejected the request. Turkey has also opposed changing its border policy, while Pakistan has restricted activities at some border crossings.
Following the failure of diplomatic efforts, the U.S. Central Command has established a 20-member task force, named “Iron Gate,” to prevent the movement of weapons, sanctioned commercial goods, and illicit financial resources through Iran’s land borders and the Caspian Sea.
A U.S. military official said the task force was not planning direct military operations but would focus on cooperation with neighboring countries in the region.
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