U.S. Demands Iraq Close Border With Iran ... Peace Talks Halt After Election

[Financial News] The United States, which began a sweeping economic blockade of Iran in August, has demanded that the Iraqi government close the border between the two countries. Talks between the U.S. and Iran to end the war have reportedly been put on hold for now amid the fallout from the U.S. midterm elections.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said this in an interview with Qatar-based pan-Arab broadcaster Al Jazeera on the 8th (local time). He said the U.S. Treasury had formally asked Iraq to close all but two border crossings into Iran as part of its economic pressure campaign against Iran.
According to Hussein, the United States proposed leaving one crossing open in Iraq’s northern Kurdistan region and one in another area. It has not yet been decided which crossings will remain open. Hussein said, “Closing the border crossings could punish Iran, but it would also harm Iraq,” adding, “If trade and movement are halted, our economy will also be affected.” He added, “The United States is still calling for the crossings to be closed, and we are consulting with the U.S. side.” Iraq has already closed the Al-Shaib border crossing, which links southern Maysan Province with Iran, effective the 21st of last month.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is leading the economic blockade of Iran, emphasized in a post on social media platform X on the 4th, the day after the midterm elections, “As we have said repeatedly, under ‘Operation Economic Outcast,’ if you are not on our side, you are an enemy.” He added, “We know where all our adversaries are, wherever they may be, and will sanction those who continue to support the Iranian regime, whether on land, at sea or in the air.”
Talks between the United States and Iran to end the war reached a stalemate after the Republican Party of U.S. President Donald Trump suffered a crushing defeat in the U.S. midterm elections on the 3rd. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with reporters on the 8th and commented on the U.S. midterms: “You will have seen the results.” He also said, “Now it is time to see when they [the United States] fully accept the results and what course they take going forward.”
On ceasefire discussions, he said, “There have been no moves by the mediating countries in recent days in the wake of the election results.” Araghchi added, “It appears that it will take some time for the situation to improve and conditions to emerge that would allow mediators to get involved again.”
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