Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 10 /Trend, T.Hajiyev/
The Iranian embassy in Azerbaijan has clarified the issue of closing Astara checkpoint.
"In order to clarify the information published in the press regarding the closure of the Astara checkpoint, I contacted the head of the Astara executive power, the heads of Customs and Police departments of the city. They refuted this information," the head of the consular department of the Iranian embassy Behrouz Zare Mirzai told Trend.
Mirzai said currently the Astara checkpoint operates as usual, checking the citizens of Azerbaijan going to Iran and back, and there are no problems.
According to him, the chief of Astara Customs stated that because of the large number of people that have gathered on Jan. 8 at the checkpoint, there was a delay in the process of crossing the border.
"In order to resolve the issue with crowd of people at the border because of the winter season on Jan. 8, the head of Astara border checkpoint ordered to facilitate passage of Azerbaijani citizens, and on the same day until 18:00, all citizens crossed the border," said Mirzai.
According to him, Iran would never unilaterally close the borders.
Azerbaijani media outlets spread information about closing of Astara border checkpoint of Iran.
"Iran has stopped passage of citizens through the Astara border checkpoint, beginning from the morning, the Iranian side has introduced an unofficial ban on border crossing of Azerbaijani citizens to the country and back," the information said.