BAGHDAD: Kurdish media reported on Sunday the three official border crossings between Iraq’s Kurdish region and Iran have been closed.
Rudaw news agency, quoting the region’s Customs chief Samal Abdulrahman said the three crossings were closed from the Iranian side on Sunday, adding that one semi-official crossing remains open. Iran’s Foreign Ministry, however, said there has been no change to the status of the border.
Earlier, Iran’s Tasnim news agency also reported that Iran had closed its border gates with northern Iraq in response to an independence referendum in Iraq’s Kurdish region last month.
Iran last month halted flights to and from Kurdish regions in northern Iraq after the independence referendum by the autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
Iraqi Kurds say border crossings with Iran closed
Iraqi Kurds say border crossings with Iran closed
Oman to host Middle East Space Conference 2026
- The three-day event gathers over 450 senior decision-makers, including government leaders and space agencies, to discuss space ecosystem
- Topics on the agenda for MESC 2026 include national space policies, agency strategies and financing methods for space-related initiatives
LONDON: Oman and Novaspace are organizing the second edition of the Middle East Space Conference in the capital, Muscat, to discuss space development in the region.
The three-day event from Jan. 26-28 brings together over 450 senior decision-makers from 190 organizations across 20 countries, including government leaders, space agencies, investors, and academics, to discuss the Middle East space ecosystem.
Oman’s Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology, in collaboration with Novaspace — a global leader in space consulting — is hosting the high-level conference to promote dialogue and deal-making, strengthening Oman’s role as a key hub for space applications and investments in the region.
“Muscat will serve as a focal point for investors, industry leaders, and policymakers seeking to engage in the next phase of growth of the Middle East space economy,” the statement said.
Topics on the agenda for MESC 2026 include national space policies, agency strategies, satellite program development and financing methods for space-related initiatives.
The program will focus on the impact of space applications, including satellite communications, urban development, and environmental sustainability. It will conclude by bringing together regulators, investors, and startups to discuss regulatory frameworks and talent development, the organizers added.
Oman’s space sector, managed by the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology, uses satellite communications, remote sensing, and monitoring to promote economic development, environmental protection, and national security in line with Oman Vision 2040.
