Zaidi Probes Maysan Council Chief After Threat to Block Roads

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi ordered an investigation on Monday into Mustafa Daeer Mohammedawi, the head of Maysan's provincial council. The probe follows a public threat by Mohammedawi to block major roads connecting the southeastern province to the rest of Iraq.

The dispute centers on the Sheeb border crossing, which Baghdad closed last Wednesday. Government spokesperson Haidar al-Aboudi stated that the site lacked necessary technical and logistical infrastructure. An Iraqi border official told Reuters that the closure allows authorities to review security arrangements and install detection equipment to stop the smuggling of prohibited materials.

Mustafa Daeer Mohammedawi warned on Sunday that Maysan would resort to civil disobedience unless the crossing reopened by Thursday. He stated that if the gate remains closed, the people of Maysan will be forced to close all roads, effectively cutting the province off from the national network. Truck drivers who rely on trade with Iran gathered near the site in protest.

Abdul Amir Hassan Ali al-Taiban, an adviser to the prime minister, claimed that drugs and currency enter southern Iraq through these Iranian crossings. He pointed to uncontrolled groups, a term often used for Iranian-backed militias, as the primary conduit. Iran's embassy in Baghdad rejected these allegations on Saturday, calling them false and urging Iraqi authorities to be careful with statements that harm bilateral relations.

Lawmaker Mohammed Jassim al-Khafaji questioned the legal basis for the prime minister's move. He argued that only the provincial council can remove its chairman by majority vote, suggesting Zaidi may lack the authority to investigate an elected official directly. Maysan is a Shiite-majority province where the capital, Amarah, serves as a commercial hub near the Iranian border.

The border standoff coincides with renewed protests in Baghdad marking the anniversary of the 2019 Tishreen movement. Demonstrators gathered on October 25 to demand political and economic reforms. Rights organizations report that more than 600 protesters were killed, about 20,000 were injured, and around 3,000 were arrested during the original uprising.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella of pro-Iran armed groups, has accused the government of yielding to Washington regarding border crossings. Activist Muntadhar al-Zaidi called for justice over the killings and criticized the concentration of political power. The National House party urged peaceful demonstrations to end corruption and bring weapons under state control.

Zaidi faces pressure from both the closed border and the anniversary protests. The government must secure its borders and answer public demands while managing strained relations with Tehran and rumors of a renewed war with Iran.