TEHRAN – Iran is considering to grant visa-free entry to Iraqi nationals visiting southwestern cities of Abadan and Khorramshahr and Arvand Free Zone as well.

“Visa-free entrance to Abadan, Khorramshahr and Arvand Free Zone will be resumed for Iraqi travelers as of next week,” mana.ir quoted Arvand Free Zone Organization CEO Esmail Zamani as saying on Tuesday.

However, he didn’t announce a specific date for implementing the scheme. 

“According to an agreement, Iraqi tourists can travel to Arvand Free Zone with just valid passports without the need for getting visas.”

Up to 1,000 Iraqi nationals are forecast to visit the free zone per day, he added.

“It is expected that economic thrive will be back to Abadan and Khorramshahr with mass arrivals of Iraqi travelers in Arvand Free Zone.”

Some two million Iraqis visited Iran during the first seven months of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21), turning Iraq into Iran’s largest source of tourists.

Arvand Free Zone is situated at the confluence of the two major rivers of Karun and Arvand in Khuzestan province bordering Iraq and Kuwait.

AFM/MQ/MG