Iraqi trucks make first cross-border haul under international TIR system

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's State Company for Land Transport, under the Transport Ministry, said Saturday that Iraqi trucks have carried out cross-border shipments under the international TIR system for the first time. Until now, cross-border land transport across Iraqi territory had been handled only by foreign trucks, according to the company's director general, Mortada Al-Shihmani. Al-Shihmani said more than 5,000 TIR shipments have been processed through Iraqi territory and that the system, run by the International Road Transport Union, covers more than 79 countries. The new Iraqi-operated cargo run began from Saudi Arabia through the Arar border crossing and is headed toward Central Asian countries, the company said. Al-Shihmani described the operation as a source of national revenue and said the ministry aims to expand the service. The ministry has signed memorandums of understanding with Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Iran and Turkey to integrate Iraq into international supply chain routes, according to the company, with talks underway with Armenia, Poland and several Gulf states on cooperation agreements. The company added that Iraq's cross-border transport sector is expected to expand significantly once the Development Road project is completed, though no timeline was given.