slug: “us-pressure-pakistan-close-iran-border-october-2026”
category: “National News”
headline: “US Presses Pakistan to Close Iran Border”
seo_title: “US Presses Pakistan to Close Iran Border”
meta_description: “Washington is pressing Pakistan to close Iran border trade routes as part of its isolation campaign, even as the Gabd crossing reopened after a week.”
focus_keyphrase: “close Iran border”
image_url: “hourly-1834-us-pressure-pakistan-close-iran-border-october-2026.webp”
image_credit: “ProPakistani”
—
US Presses Pakistan to Close Iran Border
Pakistan faces growing pressure from the United States to close Iran border trade routes, even though the Gabd-Rimdan crossing with Iran reopened on Saturday after a week-long shutdown. The pressure forms part of a wider American effort to isolate Tehran by cutting its land trade links.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said earlier this month that Washington was working with Pakistan and Turkiye to shut the routes. He described the push as an “absolute isolation campaign” against Tehran in an interview with Newsmax.
US pressure to close Iran border routes
The American pressure aims to extend a naval blockade of Iranian ports onto land. According to AFP, Washington has asked every country bordering Iran to close its crossings. Iraq shut its Sheeb crossing with Iran on October 21.
Pakistan closed trade at the Taftan and Gabd-Rimdan crossings in Balochistan on October 17. Provincial authorities pointed to security concerns, while Iran blamed “technical problems” on the Pakistani side. The closure left hundreds of trucks stranded and disrupted LPG imports.
Pakistan imports around 7,000 tons of LPG from Iran every day, with more than 4,000 tons coming through Gabd-Rimdan alone. The week-long halt raised fears of shortages and higher prices for households that depend on LPG for cooking and heating.
What Pakistan says
When asked whether US pressure stood behind the closure, the Foreign Office did not give a direct answer. Spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said Pakistan “adheres to and shall continue to adhere to all applicable sanctions regimes”.
The issue has also sparked debate online. Iranian academic Seyed Mohammad Marandi wrote on X that Pakistan was “under pressure from Trump to shut its border with Iran”.
Feature Pakistan earlier reported on the reopening of the Gabd border crossing with Iran, which restored trade and allowed stranded trucks carrying LPG and essential food items to move again. The reopening came after local administrators reviewed the security situation and deployed extra forces to protect trade convoys.
Why the border matters for Pakistan
The stakes for Pakistan go beyond diplomacy. LPG from Iran feeds a large share of household cooking fuel, and a longer closure would have pushed up prices for ordinary families. Traders and transporters on both sides of the border also depend on the crossing for their livelihoods.
The episode also sits inside a wider reset in Pakistan-US ties. Washington has recently sought greater influence in the region, a theme Feature Pakistan covered in its report on US remarks on influence over Pakistan. The border question now tests how far that partnership extends when American and Pakistani interests pull in different directions.
Regional tensions add a further layer. The Gulf has seen fresh strikes and airport closures in recent days, covered in our report on the Riyadh airport reopening amid Houthi strikes. Earlier warnings over oil ships near Hormuz and Iran’s Hormuz offer to Pakistan show how closely energy and diplomacy are tied in the region. Any disruption to Gulf energy flows makes the Iranian LPG route more valuable for Pakistan, not less.
What happens next
For now, Gabd-Rimdan has reopened for LPG tankers and essential goods. It is not yet clear when normal trade will fully resume at the crossing, or whether Taftan will follow the same path.
The key question is whether Pakistan can keep trade flowing while managing American pressure and its sanctions commitments. Traders will watch the next few days closely, since another closure would strand trucks again and strain LPG supplies.
Why did Pakistan close the Iran border crossings?
Pakistan closed trade at Taftan and Gabd-Rimdan on October 17. Provincial authorities cited security concerns, while Iran blamed technical problems on the Pakistani side. The US has also pressed Iran’s neighbours to shut land routes.
How much LPG does Pakistan import from Iran?
Pakistan imports around 7,000 tons of LPG from Iran every day, with more than 4,000 tons coming through the Gabd-Rimdan crossing alone.
Is the Gabd border crossing open now?
Yes. The Gabd-Rimdan crossing reopened on Saturday for LPG tankers and essential goods, though it is not yet clear when normal trade will fully resume.
