2.3.3 Border Crossing of Munthyra

Overview Daily Capacity Customs Clearance Other Relevant Information Photos

Overview

The latest information on the Muntyra/Khosravi border crossing with Iraq/ was updated in December 2018 over the phone.

Trucks moving through this border crossing can travel to and . Prior permission from the General Authority of border crossings. The re are no further clearances required to travel to Sulaymaniyah once having crossed the border.

At the time of assessment the border was open but no trucks were seen crossing or parked in the truck bay area.

BORDER CROSSING LOCATION & CONTACT

Name of Border Crossing: Munthrya, Iraq

Khosravi, Iran

Province or District: Munthrya, district, Diyala, Iraq

Khosravi, Kermanshah, Iran

Nearest Town or City: TOWN NAME: Khanaqin DISTANCE: 9 km

CITY NAME: Diyala DISTANCE: 90 km

Latitude: 34.382521 N

Longitude: 45.467158 E

Managing Authority/Agency: General Customs Agency (Baghdad)

General Authority of border crossings

Contact Person Colonel Muhammad Judah, Border Director

07705488344

Bashr / Customs Police 07802209940

Travel Times

Nearest NAME: Baghdad International DISTANCE: 230 km Airports: Truck: approx. 10 hrs Car: 3.5 hrs

NAME: Sulaymaniyah DISTANCE: 250 km Truck: approx. 10 hrs Car: 3.5hrs

Nearest Ports: NAME: Umm Qasr, , Iraq DISTANCE: 750 km Truck: approx. 24 hrs Car: 8 hrs

NAME: Banda Abbas, Iran DISTANCE: approx. 1,700 km Truck: approx. 50 hrs Car: approx. 21 hrs

Page 1 Nearest Major NAME: Khanaqin Market: DISTANCE 9 km Truck: approx. 1 hr Car: 20 minutes

Other The first fuel station is available 7 km from the border on the road to Khanaqin. Information: The road from Sulaymaniyah to the Munthrya/Khosravi border crossing point is approximately 226 km and can be classified as a finished surface road, with dirt/stone shoulders. It alternates from 4 lanes divided near urban centres to 2 lanes in the countryside between urban areas. The entire route is capable of supporting up to and including fully loaded 40 ft. tractor-trailer type trucks.

The drive in a Toyota Land Cruiser was approximately 4 hours in fair weather. It is approximated for truck traffic to take from 6 – 10 hours depending on seasonal climatic conditions. In the mountainous areas, vicinity of , it may even close if severe winter weather is experienced.

Hours of Operation

MONDAYS 24 hrs

TUESDAYS 24 hrs

WEDNESDAYS 24 hrs

THURSDAYS 24 hrs

FRIDAYS 24 hrs

SATURDAYS 24 hrs

SUNDAYS 24 hrs

NATIONAL HOLIDAYS: The border crossing is closed on both sides for all Iraqi and Iranian official holidays

SEASONAL CONSTRAINTS: N/A

Daily Capacity

Capacity is 400 trucks per day Currently 10-12 trucks per day are crossing from Iran. Previously this was about 200 trucks per day. There are currently no trucks crossing from Iraq to Iran. There are separate lanes for trucks, cars and buses. Cars crossing must have prior permission to cross from customs at the border. To date no Humanitarian agencies have used this crossing. There is an available weighbridge and truck parking for up to 400 trucks. There is no storage space available. There is no restriction on size/tonnage of trucks or use of temperature controlled trucks when importing supplies that require temperature control. Iranian trucks can move freely across the border or can be cross loaded as required.

Customs Clearance

If all paperwork is in order the transit time at the border is 1-2 hrs. Trucks crossing into Iraq will go through a security check and then items scanned by sonar. The trucks will then proceed to the weighbridge and onto customs. Tax exemption available for Humanitarian agencies on provision of appropriate paperwork. The process needs to start in Baghdad. General Customs in Baghdad will then send the information to the border authorizing/not authorizing the crossing. All food certificates must be supplied. Must be inspected by Quality Control Ministry of Planning. If food is transiting through Iran to Iraq food testing will take approx. 2-3 days. Trucks can continue to final destination however no distribution permitted until the food test results are available. For medicines and vaccines, the border will need to receive the documentation from the General Customs in Baghdad and, from MoH in Baghdad, the request with the list of medicines and/or vaccines, with medicines test results from MoH in Baghdad or (Country of origin). There is no restriction of type of commodities/items or where they originate from. There is a charge of ID 41,000 cost tax for inspection (US $25) for the manifest sheet and ID 1,000 per ton at the weighbridge. There are approximately 25 Clearing Agents, who are required to renew their licenses annually. For contact information for these clearing agents, please see the following document: Munthrya Clearing Agents List For procedures and documentation requirements for specific items, please see the following link: 1.3 Iraq Customs Information

Other Relevant Information

If trucks were to be re-routed from Ibrahim Khalil border crossing to Munthrya, permission to cross is required from General Authority of border cro ssings Baghdad and for Customs issues Ministry of Finance.

Page 2 Note that travel times to Baghdad are dependent on security and access. Trucks travelling to Baghdad with no restrictions takes approximately 6 hours. Trucks travelling to Baghdad via Khanaqin-Naft khana-Mandali, Bald Ruz-Kanan--Baghdad is 220 km and takes approximately 6 hours. Permission is required from Ministry of Interior to use this road. Trucks travelling to Baghdad via Khanaqin---Baghdad is 170 km and takes approximately 3 hours. Restrictions apply and permission is required from Ministry of Interior to use this road. Trucks travelling to Sulaymaniyah take approximately 4 hours.

For information on government contacts, please see the following link: 4.1 Iraq Government Contact List

Photos

First entrance to the border crossing

Second gate entrance

Page 3 Main office on left

Border crossing gate in distance

Page 4 Weighbridge

Munthrya facility

Page 5 Truck parking area

Page 6