Iraq's new gesture – which will release dozens of Iranian prisoners from jail

Iraq is transferring 49 Iranian prisoners to prisons in Iran, in a gesture to the Islamic Republic. The prisoners, including four women, were held in Iraq mainly for drug offenses. The transfer comes after the opening of land border crossings between the two countries. The prisoners will not be released but will continue serving their sentences in Iran.

Iraq transferred 49 Iranian prisoners to prisons in Iran on Tuesday, in a gesture to the Islamic Republic, according to Iran's Tasnim news agency. The prisoners, including four women, were held in Iraqi prisons mainly for possession of drugs, pills, prohibited items, or packages belonging to others. According to the report, the prisoners will not be released but will undergo legal and judicial proceedings in Iran before being transferred to the central prison in the city of Ilam, near the Iraqi border, where they will continue serving their sentences. The transfer comes shortly after Iraq announced the opening of land border crossings with Iran. Iraqi Prime Minister Al-Zaidi said the decision was made after reviewing the working conditions at the border crossings and identifying their organizational and technical needs, aiming to strengthen border security while maintaining the normal flow of trade and civilian movement. The news agency did not explain the reasoning behind the decision to transfer the prisoners specifically at this time.