Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired ten ballistic missiles toward Erbil under the pretext of targeting the “spy headquarters” of anti-Iran groups. The strike killed Kurdish businessman Peshraw Dizayee and three other people.
In a move aimed at protesting Tehran’s attack, Erbil’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry called for a boycott of Iranian products, as well as a halt on economic and trade ties with Iran.
“The statement from the Erbil Chamber of Commerce requesting a ban on Iranian goods deeply saddens us,” read a statement from Tehran Chamber of Commerce.
The Iranian chamber of commerce called on their Kurdish and Iraqi counterparts to “look to the future with determination and open hearts.”
There are multiple border crossings between the Kurdistan Region and Iran, but only three are internationally recognized: Bashmakh and Parwezkhan in Sulaimani province and Haji Omran in Erbil province.
The Kurdistan Region heavily relies on imports from Iran and Turkey for most commodities, with recorded trade volume between the Region and Iran reaching three billion dollars since the beginning of the Iranian New Year in March.
Gaylan Haji Said, the president of Erbil’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told Rudaw on Friday that the Region imports numerous commodities from Iran, including industrial materials as well as sanitation and medical products, nevertheless adding that other options remain.
“There are many alternative countries [the Region can import goods from], such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan,” he said.
Many social media users have also called for a boycott of Iranian goods, with protests in Erbil, Soran, and Duhok calling for the same thing.
Duhok’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Saturday said in a statement that it will seek alternatives to Iranian imports in protest of Tehran's deadly missile attack on Erbil.
